>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

COMING UP, SETTLING INTO A NEW HOME, MEET THE VERY FIRST PERSON TO BENEFIT FROM A NEW LOCAL INVESTMENT TO BOOST BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP.

>>> HUNGER ON CAMPUS, WE WILL HAVE A LOOK AT A FOOD PANTRY DEDICATED TO SERVING THE GROWING NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

>>> PROTECTING ANIMALS FROM COVID-19, THE SAN DIEGO ZOO TELLS US WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING WHEN THAT COMES TO PROTECTING THEIR WIDE RANGE OF SPECIES.

>>> WE START WITH A SPECIAL KPBS INVESTIGATIVE SERIES AND A WARNING, THIS STORY HAS GRAPHIC CONTENT.

KPBS REPORTER CLEAR TRIGGERS ARE LOOKED AT RECORDS WHERE POLICE SHOOTINGS OCCURRED IN SAN DIEGO.

THOSE REVEAL A VAST DISPARITY WITH FAR MORE SHOOTINGS HAPPENING IN PLACES WHERE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVE.

>> Reporter: IN FEBRUARY 2014, SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER CRYSTAL MIRANDA WAS SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT AT HENRY LEWIN'S GONZALEZ HOME.

SHE SAW HIM PULL OUT WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A SHINY OBJECT IN HIS WAISTBAND, SO SHE SHOT HIM THREE TIMES.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE RINGS ON HIS FINGERS.

>> THE INTERSECTION OF ENGEL AND BENSON PICK >> Reporter: IN MAY 2016, A GUY WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM A HOUSE POLICE SAID WAS USED BY THE ORIENTAL KILLER BOYS GANG.

SAN DIEGO POLICE OFFICERS CHASED THEM IN THEIR SQUAD CAR AND SHOT AND KILLED HIM.

>> SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!

SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!

>> Reporter: THAT SAME MONTH, MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S GANG UNIT WERE DOING SURVEILLANCE AT A KNOWN GANG HOUSE ON SKYLINE DRIVE AND ENDED UP IN A SHOOTOUT WITH THE SUSPECTS.

THIS TIME, NO ONE WAS KILLED.

THESE WERE AMONG SEVEN POLICE SHOOTINGS OVER SIX YEARS THAT HAPPENED IN THE 912214 IN CANTO.

THE CLUSTERS OF CASES IN MANKATO FITS INTO A CITYWIDE TREND INCLUDING ACCORDING TO A KPBS ANALYSIS OF ALMOST 157 AND POLICE DEPARTMENT CASES , IN WHICH OFFICERS USED FORCE THAT LED TO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES OR DEATH.

ALMOST 70 PERCENT OF THESE OCCURRED SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 8 AND ALMOST A QUARTER IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO.

IN ADDITION TO IN CANTO, ZIP CODES WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS WERE LOGAN HEIGHTS, DOWNTOWN, AND CITY HEIGHTS.

>> ANYBODY WHO LIVES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES NOW THAT THE POLICE TEND TO REACT DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY DO IN COMMUNITIES NORTH ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LESS BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WEALTHIER.

>> Reporter: ALEXANDER WITH PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT SURPRISED BY THE NUMBERS.

>> IF THEY WERE TO TREAT PEOPLE IN LA JOLLA OR PEOPLE IN CLERMONT OR CORONADO THE SAME WAY, THERE WOULD BE IMMEDIATE REPERCUSSIONS TO THE ACTIONS PICK >> Reporter: POLICE SHOOTINGS ALMOST NEVER HAPPEN IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS MOSTLY WHITE AND WEALTHY ENCLAVES.

CONSIDER ANY 15 YEAR PERIOD, THE COMBINED TOTAL, IN LA JOLLA, PALA AND RANCHO SANTA FE, WAS JUST THREE, FEWER THAN HALF AS MANY AS THEY WERE IN ENCANTO ALONE ACCORDING TO THE KPBS ANALYSIS.

OFFICIALS FROM THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT DECLINED AN INTERVIEW REQUEST FOR THE STORY.

IN THE PAST, CHIEF DAVID HAS SAID THERE ARE MORE ARRESTS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IS DISSEMINATION.

>> DISPARITIES WILL EXIST BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN SOCIETY DOES NOT HAPPEN ALONG THE DEMOGRAPHIC LINE.

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, YOU WILL HAVE DISPARITIES AND THAT IS WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND DISPARITY DOES NOT EQUAL DISCRIMINATION.

>> Reporter: ALEXANDER SAYS HIGHER CRIME STATISTICS, IN THE ZIP CODES, DO NOT JUSTIFY MORE USE OF FORCE.

>> THE IDEA THAT THERE IS MORE CRIME IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO THAN IN LA JOLLA OR OTHER COMMUNITIES IS A MYTH.

WHAT YOU HAVE IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO AND THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE A LARGER POLICE PRESENCE LOOKING FOR CRIME.

>> ANYBODY COME OUT NOW!

>> Reporter: THE FEAR FACTOR AMONG POLICE OFFICERS MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, SO SAYS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

>> I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO POLICE VIEW PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS.

DO THEY VIEW THEM AS DANGEROUS, DO THEY ALREADY PRE-LABELED THEM AS GANG MEMBERS, AS VIOLENT?

ARE THEY SCARED?

>> Reporter: IN ENCANTO, FIVE OF THE SEVEN PEOPLE SHOT BY POLICE WERE DESCRIBED AS GANG MEMBERS OR ASSOCIATED WITH GANGS BEFORE THEY WERE SHOT ACCORDING TO POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDS.

IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, SAN DIEGO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUMMER STEFAN ROLLED OUT A DE- ESCALATION TRAINING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING.

SHE SAYS IT IS VITAL.

>> THAT IS ALSO DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOW NOT CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A WEAPON, WHAT IS THEIR ACCESS AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING, AND THEN BIAS AGAINST A GROUP IS ALSO COLORING YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE INTELLIGENT DECISIONS.

>> Reporter: FOR ACTIVISTS LIKE RIOS, THERE HAS BEEN MORE DAMAGE TO SAN DIEGO'S SOUTH OF EIGHT COMMUNITIES THEN ONE DE- ESCALATION TRAINING PROGRAM CAN FIX.

>> THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE AND IN AREAS THAT I LOVE AND LIVE IN.

I THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY SCARY.

FOLKS ARE SCARED OF THE POLICE, THEY ARE SCARED OF LIVING IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Reporter: CLEAR TRIGGERS ARE, KPBS NEWS.. >> THAT IS THE FIRST OF THREE SPECIAL REPORTS FROM CLAIRE.

ALL OF THEM CAN BE STREAMED ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG .

WE HAVE A MAP THAT SHOWS YOU WHERE THE SHOOTINGS TOOK PLACE.

>>> HEALTH LEADERS ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON A VARIANT OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

SO FAR, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF KNOWN CASES IN THE U.S.

INCLUDING CALIFORNIA.

JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US THE NEWLY UNIQUE WEIGHT SCIENTISTS AT UC SAN DIEGO ARE LOOKING FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>> IT IS SOMETHING WE ALL DO EVERYDAY , AND YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR NOT GIVING A THOUGHT TO WHERE THE WASTEWATER GOES AFTER YOU FLUSH, BUT AT UC SAN DIEGO, A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS THINKS ABOUT THIS A LOT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN REGULARLY COLLECTING WASTEWATER FROM MULTIPLE SITES ACROSS CAMPUS ON A DAILY BASIS FOR A WHILE.

>> Reporter: THAT WASTEWATER IS COLLECTED BY THESE CONTRAPTIONS AT VARIOUS POINTS ACROSS CAMPUS.

AS DR. LAWRENCE SAYS, THEY HAVE BEEN MONITORING FOR COVID-19 AT UC SAN DIEGO FOR A WHILE NOW.

NOW, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT.

>> WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN THE RESULTS .

FOR EXAMPLE, THE OMICRON VARIANT HAS A DELETION IN THE SPIKE PROTEIN G. >> Reporter: WHEN THE VIRUS, AND WHATEVER VARIANT SHOWS UP, PEOPLE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE BUILDING IT CAME FROM ARE NOTIFIED AND ASKED TO GET A NASAL SWAB TEST.

THE ADVANTAGE TO THIS METHOD IS PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL A POSITIVE SAMPLE TURNS UP.. >> WE THINK WE PICKED UP CASES THAT WAY.

AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, WERE ABLE TO TO PICK UP THE DELTA VARIANT EARLIER WITH INDIVIDUAL TESTINGS.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO WORKS WITH THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH COLLECTS SAMPLES FROM NUMEROUS SCHOOLS AND SENDS THEM TO THE LAB FOR TESTING, CASTING A WIDE NET TO DETECT ANY COVID-19 OUTBREAKS.

NOW, THIS IS ESPECIALLY OMICRON.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS .

>>> COVID-19 IS JUST NOT A PROBLEM FOR HUMANS.

AS WE HAVE SEEN, ANIMALS ARE AT RISK.

WE ARE SEEING CASES POP UP AT ZOOS ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING THREE SNOW LEOPARDS THAT DIED IN NEBRASKA.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN MET WITH LOCAL ZOOKEEPERS FOR AN UPDATE ON HOW THEIR ANIMALS ARE BEING PROTECTED.

>> Reporter: THE PAST 20 MONTHS HAVE BEEN INTERESTING FOR US.

BACK IN JANUARY, THE SAN DIEGO ZOO FOR ITS FIRST CORONAVIRUS CASES.

>> WE HAD THE FIRST CASE IN GUERRILLAS.

SINCE THEN, THERE WERE ZOOS AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE HAD POSITIVE CASES, NOT ONLY IN GUERRILLAS AND TIGERS, BUT IN COUGARS, SNOW LEOPARDS SEEM TO BE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VIRUS.

>> Reporter: DR. NADINE IS T WILDLIFE HEALTH OFFICER AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO.

SHE HAS BEEN LEADING EFFORTS TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROM THE SAME VIRUS THAT HAS KILLED MILLIONS OF HUMUS.. >> WE KNOW FROM SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THAT CARNIVORES, PARTICULARLY CATS, BIG CATS, AND PRIMATES ARE EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS VIRUS.

>> Reporter: BETWEEN THE ZOO'S MAIN LOCATION AND THEIR SAFARI PARK OVER 20 CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN ANIMALS.

STAFF ARE NORMALLY NOT ABLE TO GET A NASAL SWAB, SO THE TEST FECAL MENTOR.

THIS DOCTOR SAID ANIMALS HAVE SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO HUMANS.

>> SOME ANIMALS GO OFF.

SOME ARE LETHARGIC AND SOME DEVELOP A COUGH OR FEVER AND SOME DEVELOP ALL THOSE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT DAYS.

EACH CASE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE, BUT WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT ALL OF THE WILDLIFE IN OUR CARE, THAT CONTRACTED THE VIRUS, HAVE RECOVERED.

>> Reporter: CASES ARE BELIEVED TO COME FROM INFECTED STAFF WERE ASYMPTOMATIC WORKING CLOSELY WITH ANIMALS.

OVER THE SUMMER, TWO SNOW LEOPARDS TESTED POSITIVE.

>> IT WAS A TENSE TIME NOT KNOWING WHICH WAY THEY WERE GOING TO GO AND THIS WAS PRIOR TO THEM BEING FULLY VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: THE ZOO WAS THE FIRST TO BEGIN A COVID-19 VACCINE APPROVED FOR ANIMALS.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, MORE THAN 250 ANIMALS HAVE GOTTEN THEIR COVID-19 INFECTIONS AT THE ZOO INCLUDING BIG CATS INCLUDING THAT LEOPARD OUT THERE.

SHE SAYS THEY HAVE USED ALL OF THEIR SUPPLY BUT IF MY BECAME AVAILABLE, BOOSTER DOSES COULD BE CONSIDERED.

>> PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE VARIANCE COMING OUT AND WE WANT TO GIVE OUR ANIMALS THE BEST TENDS TO FIGHT OFF THE INFECTION SO THEY CAN HAVE THE BEST LIFE POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: ZOO STAFF WEAR FACE COVERINGS AND LIMIT TIME SPENT INSIDE WITH ANIMALS.

THERE HAVE BEEN BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS AND SOME VACCINATED BUT THEIR SYMPTOMS WERE MILD.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS .

>>> SOME CONVERSATIONS FROM KPBS MIDDAY ADDITION ARE AMONG OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG , THAT INCLUDES OUR COVERAGE OF COVID- 19.

MAUREEN CAVANAUGH SPOKE TO AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT UC SAN DIEGO ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT.

MIDDAY CAUGHT UP WITH THE SAN DIEGO THEN BABY BUSH GOT ABOUT THEIR RETURN TO THE STATES THIS WEEKEND FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ONE OF THEIR BANDMATES.

IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT WEEK FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN AMERICA WITH ABORTION ACCESS CHALLENGED AT THE SUPREME COURT.

>>> WE LIKELY WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL JUNE IF JUSTICES WILL ALLOW A HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE LAW IN MISSISSIPPI TO STAY IN PLACE.

LEGAL EXPERTS SAY THERE IS A CHANCE THAT CAN SAY MAJORITY WILL WIPE OUT WILL BE WEIGHED RULING ENTIRELY.

KITTY ALVARADO TALKED WITH LOCAL ADVERTS FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

>> Reporter: OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, PROTESTS, INSIDE, JUSTICES HEARD ARGUMENTS CHALLENGING A 22 MISSISSIPPI LOVE THAT MAKES MOST ABORTIONS ILLEGAL AFTER 15 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS CLARIFIED WHAT UPHOLDING THE MISSISSIPPI LAW COULD MEAN.

>> THE FIRST QUESTION, AND THE ONLY ONE WE GRANTED REVIEW, WAS WHETHER ALL PRE-VIABILITY PROHIBITIONS ON ELECTIVE ABORTIONS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> Reporter: IN 1973, ROE VERSUS WADE MADE ABORTIONS LEGAL NATIONWIDE.

THIS CURRENT CASE ASKS IF ABORTION SHOULD BE A STATE ISSUE.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE OVERRULING ROE VERSUS WADE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE SUPREME COURT SAYS THAT EXPLICITLY OR INDIRECTLY, THAT WOULD BE AN OVERRULING OF THAT DECISION.

>> Reporter: MAGGIE SCHROEDER IS WITH THE LAWYERS CLUB OF SAN DIEGO.

SHE SAYS THIS DECISION WILL GO BEYOND STATES RIGHTS AND THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

>> THERE ARE AT LEAST 20 STATES THAT HAVE STRICT ABORTION LEGISLATION TESTING PENDING AND SORT OF READY TO GO.

WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO ACT MORE RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LEGISLATION.

>> Reporter: DURING ORAL ARGUMENTS, MISSISSIPPI SOLICITOR GENERAL SCOTT HAD HARSH WORD FOR ROE V WADE AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> ROE VERSUS WADE AND PLAN PARENTS FARED VERSUS KASIE HUNT OUR COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE NO BASIS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND NO HISTORY OR TRADITIONS.

>> Reporter: GARRETT JOHNSON, THE PRESIDENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD PACIFIC SOUTHWEST, SAYS ONE IN FOUR WOMEN HAVE HAD AN ABORTION AND MOST PEOPLE KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS.

>> IT SADDENS ME THAT IF YOU ARE BEING TOLD WHEN TO CHOOSE AND IF YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO START OR PLAN YOUR FAMILY, NO ONE SHOULD GET IN BETWEEN THAT DECISION.

THAT SHOULD BE BETWEEN YOU AND THE PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILY THAT LOVE AND CARE FOR YOU.

CERTAINLY NOT THE GOVERNMENT.

>> Reporter: SARAH, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO'S WOMEN'S MARCH SAYS WOMEN HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS FOR GENERATIONS AND THIS CASE SHOWS THE NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR MISSION.

>> IF WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS EVERY DAY, IF WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR ABILITY TO MAKE THESE CHOICES TO HAVE THIS AUTONOMY, IT IS A FRAGILE THING THAT CAN GO AWAY.

LET'S KEEP FIGHTING TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: THE SUPREME COURT IS EXPECTED TO RULE ON THIS CASE NEXT SUMMER.

KITTY ALVARADO, KPBS NEWS .

>>> WE WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED KPBS AND OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS DURING GIVING TUESDAY.

THERE IS A LOT OF NEED OUT THERE AND THAT EXTENDS TO OUR COLLEGES.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER MJ PEREZ HAS EYE-OPENING STORIES ABOUT THOSE GOING HUNGRY WHILE TRYING TO EARN A DEGREE.

>> Reporter: HUNGER IS ON THE MOVE AMONG CALIFORNIA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS.

THE STATE CONFIRMS HALF OF THEM, 50%, DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY OR RESOURCES TO BUY ENOUGH FOOD.

>> THERE IS SOME ARE POTATOES HERE.

>> Reporter: 18-YEAR-OLD CJ IS A FRESHMAN AT SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE.

HE MOVED HERE FROM SAN JOSE BUT PLANS TO KEEP PLAYING SOCCER AND BEGIN HIS EDUCATION FOR A CAREER IN CIVIL ENGINEERING.

JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING, HE JOINED HUNDREDS OF FELLOW STUDENTS LINED UP IN THEIR CARS IN ONE OF MESA'S PARKING GARAGES.

THIS IS THE THIRD ANNUAL PACK THE PANTRY FOOD DRIVE, A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COLLEGE AND THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK AND CALIFORNIA COAST CREDIT UNION ESTABLISHED BY TEACHERS IN 1929 TO IMPROVE EDUCATION.

NEVER EXPECTING IN 2021 STUDENTS WOULD BE GOING HUNGRY.

>> THAT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE STUDENTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF DROPPING A CLASS OR MISSING CLASS OR EVEN NOT ACHIEVING THEIR ACADEMICS TO THE POTENTIAL WE, OR THE ANOMALY MIGHT.

>> Reporter: CJ IS GRATEFUL TO FILL UP HIS CAR WITH SO MANY CANS AND BOXES.

>> THIS HELPS ME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING AND I CAN ALSO AFFORD RENT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, BUT IT IS A LOT OF FOOD AND IT WILL HELP ME IN THE LONG RUN SO I AM ABLE TO EAT.

>> Reporter: MESA COLLEGE HOSTED AN EARLY THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR STUDENTS WHO COULD USE AN EXTRA MEAL.

HUNGER INSECURITY IS HAPPENING ON FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, TOO.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA REPORTS 44% OF ITS STUDENTS OFTEN GO HUNGRY, AND 14% OF THEM DO NOT HAVE STABLE HOUSING .

THAT PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> YOU LIVE IN APARTMENT STUDENT HOUSING.

>> I AM CURRENTLY HOMELESS.

>> Reporter: ALEX MONTES REPRESENTS ONE OF THOSE STATISTICS AND HE IS DETERMINED TO TURN THIS INTO HIS SUCCESS STORY.

HE IS AN IMMIGRANT FROM COLUMBIA TRYING TO FIND HOUSING THROUGH THE SAN DIEGO LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER.

AT THE MOMENT, HE USES MESA'S BASIC NEEDS RESOURCE CENTER CALLED THE STAND.

>> I COME HERE TO GET SNACKS.

>> Reporter: JOHANNE IS THE COORDINATOR WHO COMFORTS STUDENTS WHEN THEY NEED THAT MOST.. >> THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY WHO CARES OR ANYBODY WHO WILL HELP THEM, AND SO LISTENING TO THOSE STORIES CAN GET EMOTIONALLY OVERWHELMING.

WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

MOST OF THEM LEAVE FEELING AT LEAST THE COLLEGE LOVES THEM.

>> ALL OF YOUR CANDY GOOD FOODS, ANYTHING FROM CANNED VEGETABLES TO CANNED FRUITS.

>> Reporter: AT CAL STATE SAN MARCOS, THEY PACKED A NEW PANTRY , THE RIBBON WAS JUST CUT ON THE SCHOOL STUDENT COUGAR PANTRY, WHICH IS NOW 1200 SQUARE FEET FILLED WITH FOOD BOTH NONPERISHABLE AND FROZEN.

THEY WERE DIAPERS AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS FOR STRUGGLING STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS, ALL PROVIDED BY FEEDING SAN DIEGO, THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK AND LOCAL GROCERY STORES HAS ANOTHER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

>> HAVING ACCESS TO A MEAL OR INGREDIENTS TO PUT TOGETHER A MEAL THAT WAY YOU ARE NOT STRESSED AND WORRYING ABOUT WHAT TO EAT WHILE ON TOP OF THAT WORRYING ABOUT DIFFERENT STRESSORS THAT COME FROM BEING A STUDENT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT AS ALEX MONTES BEGINS EDUCATION FOR HIS FUTURE CAREER .

>> PROBABLY DEVELOP OR HELP DEVELOP SOME OF THE NEW GENERATION OF BIONIC ARMS AND RIMS OVERALL.

THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE.

>> Reporter: THIS NOURISHES THEIR GENES.

M.G.

PEREZ, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA .

>>> I AM JOHN DECKER, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING EVENING ADDITION ON KPBS.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, LOCAL NEWS IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY, AND KPBS IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING LOCAL NEWS IN SAN DIEGO AND THE IMPERIAL VALLEY.

EVENING EDITION ALONG WITH OTHER SERVICES ON RADIO, DIGITAL AND PODCASTS, IS HOW OUR NEWS TEAM DELIVERS THE NEWS TO YOU.

HOW CAN WE DO IT, WITH A PASSION FOR ACCURATE STORYTELLING AND A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE DO THIS WITH YOUR SUPPORT, OUR MEMBERS, OUR VIEWERS.

IF YOU HAVE DONATED TO KPBS, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT .

IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO DONATE, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THE NEWS WE DELIVER.

PLEASE GO ONLINE AND CHOOSE A LEVEL, PICK A GIFT AT KPBS.ORG, OR CALL OR TEXT DONATE AT 1-800- 576-5727 AND THANK YOU.

>>> LITTLE ITALY IS KNOWN TO DRAW A CROWD, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

IT IS A DESIRABLE PLACE, BUT NOT MANY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

KPBS METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN TELLS US HOW THE STATE IS LOOKING AT SOME UNDERUSED BLOCKS NEARBY TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> THE STATE OWNED LOTS, JUST OUTSIDE LITTLE ITALY, CURRENTLY HOUSE AN AGING OFFICE BUILDING, TWO DILAPIDATED VACANT BUILDINGS AND PARKING LOTS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE STATE HEALTH PUT OUT A CALL INTERESTED IN BUILDING HOUSING AND ON THE SIDES.

STEPHEN RUSSELL, HEAD OF THE NONPROFIT SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION, SAYS THE LARGE SIZE OF THE LOTS MAKES FOR ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES THAT COULD INCLUDE CHILDCARE OR A NEW PART.. >> THEY CREATED A LABORATORY FOR EXPERIMENTATION.

THE AFFORDABLE SECOND HAUSER IS THE MOST SET OF DEVELOPERS BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE.

>> THE STATES REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS OR R.F.Q.

PUT AN EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABILITY.

RUSSELL SAYS THAT COULD SPARK CUTTING-EDGE IDEAS LIKE HIGH- RISE BUILDINGS MADE OUT OF REINFORCED TIMBER, WHICH CAN LOWER CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THE BUILDINGS CARBON FOOTPRINT.

>> THOSE ARE TECHNIQUES NOT USED WIDELY RIGHT NOW.

THIS ONE, IN ORDER TO PROVE THE POINT AND GET THE EXTRA POINTS ON THE R.F.Q.

MIGHT STRETCH THEMSELVES TO DO EXPERIMENTS THAT THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE TRY.

>> THE STATE HOPES TO SELECT A DEVELOPMENT TEAM BY NEXT MAY.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS .

>>> HOME PRICES ARE FORCING PEOPLE TO RECONSIDER WHERE THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE AND THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

NEXT WEEK, OUR RACE AND EQUITY REPORTER CHRISTINE IS HOSTING A KPBS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ABOUT GENTRIFICATION IN SAN DIEGO.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS TO YOU FIRST.

TAKE PART BY TELLING THE STORY AT KPBS.ORG .

THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE FREE ONLINE EVENT HAPPENING WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. .

>>> A NEW PROGRAM IS HELPING BLACK HOMEOWNERS GET INTO SAN DIEGO'S COMPETITIVE HOUSING MARKET.

CHRISTINA KIM CAUGHT UP WITH A FIRST GRANT RECIPIENT AS HE SETTLES INTO HIS NEW HOME.

>> Reporter: >> Reporter: HE HAS NO PLANS FOR HIS NEWLY PURCHASED TWO BEDROOM TWO BATHROOM CONDO IN SPRING VALLEY EXPECT I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF RENOVATING EVERYTHING.

THE WHOLE KITCHEN WILL GET COMPLETELY MOVED AND DESTROYED.

THE KITCHEN WILL COME ALL THE WAY OUT AGAINST THIS YELLOW WALL, WHICH IS WHY THAT'S NOT PAINTED.

>> Reporter: A 23-YEAR-OLD IS CONFIDENT FOR HIS VISION FOR HIS NEW HOME.

RIGHT NOW, HIS ROOM IS ONE OF THE FEW SPOTS HE HAS FULLY FURNISHED AND DECORATED WITH SOME OF HIS FAVORITE ANIME ART.

HE WANTS A MORE MODERN KITCHEN AND HE IS WORKING WITH HIS DAD TO REMOVE THE CARPET AND REPLACE THAT WITH NEW FLOORING.. >> PROBABLY EVERY OTHER WEEK I WILL GO TO HOME DEPOT.

I WAS NOT THINKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE HAND THAT IT HAPPENS.

I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RENOVATING.

IF I WILL NOT GO TO HOME DEPOT, I LOOK ON AMAZON.

>> Reporter: HE IS A COLLEGE STUDENT IN ADDITION TO WORKING FULL-TIME AS A CALIBRATION TECHNICIAN.

NOW THAT HE IS A HOMEOWNER, THAT PUTS HIM ON A VERY SMALL GROUP OF BLACK SAN DIEGO'S SAN DIEGOANS.

ONLY A QUARTER OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO CITY OWN A HOME.

MORE THAN HALF OF ALL WHITE AND ASIAN AGAINST SAN DIEGOANS ARE HOMEOWNERS.

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE FOR BLACK PEOPLE ARE LOWER THAN PLACES NEAR LA MESA AND EL CAJON ACCORDING TO A NEWLY RELEASED STUDY BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE, A NONPROFIT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC POLICY.

>> THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF HOUSING HEALTH WELD HELD BY WHITE HOUSEHOLDS OR WHAT HOMEOWNERS IS $129 BILLION.

FOR BLACK HOMEOWNERS, IT IS LESS THAN $5 BILLION.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL WAS THE LEAD RESEARCHER ON THE URBAN INSTITUTE STUDY.

HE SAID SAN DIEGO JUST DOES NOT HAVE A RACIAL GAP IN HOMEOWNERSHIP, BUT WITH HOME VALUES AS WELL.

>> BLACK HOMEOWNERS, ON AVERAGE, THEIRS IS $610,000, ABOUT A THIRD LESS THAN THE AVERAGE VALUE OF A WHITE HOME.

>> Reporter: NEIL SAYS HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION COUPLED WITH LONG-STANDING WAGE GAPS AND RISING HOUSING COSTS ARE AT THE HEART OF THESE PERSISTING INEQUITIES.

IT IS WHY A GROUP OF NONPROFITS AND SAY AND COUNTY SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER'S OFFICE LAUNCHED THE SAN DIEGO BLACK HOMEOWNERS BUYER PROGRAM LAST AUGUST.

THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND MORE ECONOMIC ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK SAN DIEGOANS LIKE COOK WHO IS THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE PROGRAM, AND A SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER PERCENT AT THE LAUNCH, TO TRY TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

>> WE HAVE SUCH AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE ACCESS.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF EQUALITY OF OUTCOME BUT THERE IS EQUALITY OF ACCESS.

>> Reporter: NOW THE PROGRAM IS SET UP, BUT NEEDS TO EXPAND AND HELP MORE FAMILIES.

HERE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM'S FUNDS.

>> WE CREATE THE PROGRAM AND THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE GOT MORE ATTACHED TO IT.

WE JUST NEED TO PROVIDE MORE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT TOO BIG OF AN INVESTMENT.

>> FOR $1 MILLION, YOU CAN GET 25 FAMILIES HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND DEFINITELY.

>> I LIKE THE BALCONY/PATIO.

>> Reporter: THAT IS SOMETHING ALREADY HAPPENING FOR TWO.

HE USED THE NEARLY $50,000 GRANT TO PAY HIS CLOSING COST.

HE IS USING THE MONEY HE SAVED TO ADD VALUE AND EQUITY BACK INTO HIS HOME.

HE HOPES HIS CONDO LOOK HIM START HIS ABILITY TO BUILD WELL AND TAKE CARE OF THE GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> I WANTED TO GIVE MY CHILDREN A BETTER CHILDHOOD, NOT THAT MINE WAS BAD, BUT IN ORDER FOR ME TO DO THAT, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO NEVER TELL MY CHILDREN NO BECAUSE OF MONEY EVER.

IF I TELL THEM NO, IT IS BECAUSE I SAID NO, NOT BECAUSE MY ACCOUNT IS TELLING ME NO.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, HE IS ENJOYING HIS HOMES SCENIC VIEWS OF PINK SUNSETS, AND HIS PLANNING ON HAVING HIS SIBLINGS VISIT AND STAY WITH HIM, SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE UNTIL JUST LAST MONTH.

CHRISTINA KIM, KPBS NEWS .

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

♪