The San Diego Housing Federation Recognizes Paul Downey, President and CEO of Serving Seniors, as the 2025 Recipient of the Housing Champion Ruby Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2025
Contact: Sarah Buchanan, Executive Vice President
San Diego Housing Federation
918-809-1927
The San Diego Housing Federation Recognizes Paul Downey, President and CEO of Serving Seniors, as the 2025 Recipient of the Housing Champion Ruby Award
The 35th Annual Ruby Awards Celebrates Leadership, Innovation and Impact in Affordable Housing
SAN DIEGO –The San Diego Housing Federation will honor President and CEO of Serving Seniors, Paul Downey, with the Housing Champion Award recognition at its upcoming Ruby Awards ceremony on June 5.
The signature event is the country’s largest affordable housing industry recognition event honoring the best people, projects, and achievements during the past year. The 35th annual Ruby Awards will be held June 5, 2025, from 5:30 – 10 p.m. at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina.
The Board of Directors selects the Housing Champion recipient who honors professionals with more than two decades of leadership, innovation, and impact in the affordable housing field. Recipients embody the values of the Federation: a commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability; collaboration and partnership across the community development field and advocacy for policies that improve the quality of life of families and communities.
Since his appointment in 1995, Serving Seniors has developed a nationally recognized model of support for low-income and homeless older adults, including daily meal service 365 days per year with 1.5 million nutritious congregate and home delivered meals served annually, case management, social activities, civic engagement, and health care, mental health care, and dental care through a collaborative partner.
Downey initiated and led the 2021 Serving Seniors Needs Assessment report, a groundbreaking study focusing on older adult homeless in San Diego. Its findings and proposed solutions are now routinely cited, driving community conversation and public policy with a new recognition of the realities of aging and poverty. His advocacy has resulted in many of the assessment’s recommendations being enacted by the state and local governments.
Downey’s current community leadership roles include Co-chairing the County of San Diego’s Elder Protection Council, placement on the Continuum of Care Board and Chairman of the Aging and Homelessness Committee with the Regional Task Force on the Homelessness.
Downey previously served as chairman of the California Commission on Aging; National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs; and Dean’s Advisory Board, San Diego State University College of Health and Human Services. He is a past board member for the American Society on Aging.
“I have known of Paul longer than we have known each other. Before even his earliest days with Serving Seniors, Paul has been more than just a leader in affordable housing – he has been a teacher, mentor, and a friend to me and many others. He is the consummate gentleman, and a fierce advocate at the same time. His leadership has empowered the community to achieve our goals time and again, locally and at the state level. He always leads by example,” said Stephen Russell, President, and CEO, of San Diego Housing Federation.
For more information on the 2025 Ruby Awards, please visit our website. The additional Ruby Awards categories include: Outstanding Resident Leader, Outstanding Service to Residents, Rich Juarez Advocate, Outstanding Gov Agency or Elected Official, Supportive Housing Award, Voice of Lived Experience, Above & Beyond Mentor in Workforce Development, John Craven Public Service Memorial Award, Project of the Year: Rehab, and Project of the Year: New Construction.
San Diego Housing Federation
The San Diego Housing Federation is the region’s voice for affordable housing. The Federation is committed to increasing the supply of housing for San Diego’s most vulnerable families, seniors, veterans, and those living with disabilities. For more information visit, www.housingsandiego.org.