San Diego

The San Diego Housing Commission on Monday unanimously endorsed the concept of establishing a Housing Trust Fund and authorized a task force to conduct a $50,000 study of methods of raising money for the fund.

Proposed by Evan Becker, the commission’s executive director, the fund is envisioned as a method of raising revenue from sources other than the federal government, which has dramatically reduced contributions to affordable housing over the eight years of former President Reagan’s Administration.

Under the proposal, so-called “linkage fees” on commercial development, taxes, license fees, charitable donations and unclaimed lottery winnings might be used to pay for home construction and rehabilitation, rent subsidies, home buyer assistance or homeless programs.

The task force will report to the commission within six months.