The San Diego Housing Federation Recognizes Simonne Ruff, Director at Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) as the 2026 Housing Champion Ruby Award Recipient
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2026
Contact: Sarah Buchanan, Executive Vice President
San Diego Housing Federation
918-809-1927
The San Diego Housing Federation Recognizes Simonne Ruff, Director at Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) as the 2026 Housing Champion Ruby Award Recipient
The 36th Annual Ruby Awards Celebrates Leadership, Innovation and Impact in Affordable Housing
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Housing Federation will honor Simonne Ruff, Director at Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), with the Housing Champion Award recognition at its upcoming Ruby Awards ceremony on June 4, 2026.
The Ruby Awards is the county’s largest affordable housing industry event, recognizing the people, projects, and achievements that have made a significant impact over the past year. The 36th annual Ruby Awards will be held June 4, 2026, from 6 pm – 10 pm at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay.
The Housing Champion Award is selected by the Federation’s Board of Directors and recognizes a leader with more than two decades of impact, innovation, and sustained contributions to the affordable housing field. Recipients embody a commitment to collaboration, community partnership, and advancing policies that improve quality of life for families and communities.
Simonne Ruff is a recognized leader in affordable and supportive housing, with three decades of experience advancing innovative, community-centered solutions that expand housing opportunities across San Diego and beyond. Her work reflects a deep commitment to housing as a critical social determinant of health and a passion for creating opportunities for people and communities to thrive.
As Director of the San Diego and Orange County program at CSH, Simonne oversees a broad portfolio of training, technical assistance, lending, and systems change initiatives. She leads regional efforts to strengthen supportive housing development and services, working closely with tenants, developers, service providers, philanthropic partners, and public agencies to design and implement sustainable, person-centered housing solutions.
Through her collaborative leadership, CSH’s regional work has supported the advancement and expansion of supportive housing across the region. Through ongoing technical assistance on behalf of the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, Simonne and her team support 1,061 supportive housing units in San Diego within a broader portfolio of 3,602 units, and 1,597 supportive housing units within a 3,297-unit portfolio in Orange County.
Supportive housing connected to the CSH San Diego team’s technical assistance maintains a 92 percent or higher annual tenant retention rate, demonstrating the effectiveness of high-quality housing paired with services in supporting long-term housing stability.
Simonne’s expertise spans supportive housing, shared housing models, program evaluation, and organizational development. She is widely respected for her ability to translate complex systems into practical strategies, build cross-sector partnerships, and guide communities toward scalable solutions. She has pioneered innovative approaches to pairing housing and services, strengthening the sector in San Diego.
Prior to joining CSH, Simonne held senior leadership roles at Neighborhood Link and Senior Link in Toronto, where she managed multi-service divisions serving seniors, individuals experiencing homelessness, and other vulnerable populations. Her early work included leading research on supportive housing effectiveness in partnership with the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, grounding her career in both evidence-based practice and community impact.
Beyond her formal role, Simonne has contributed extensively through board and advisory leadership, including serving as an Assembly-appointed Board Member of the California Housing Partnership Corporation, and in leadership roles with the San Diego Continuum of Care, the San Diego Housing Federation, the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, and The San Diego LGBT Community Center.
Her leadership consistently centers lived experience, collaboration, equity, and systems change, reflecting a deep commitment to people and community. She is known for her generosity, depth of knowledge, and ability to bring people together in service of lasting solutions. In recognition of her sustained impact and leadership, Simonne and her team have received numerous honors, including the Community Health Improvement Partners Champion Award, the San Diego Housing Federation Ruby Hearth Stone Award, and the San Diego Mental Health Housing Program of the Year Award.
“Simonne’s impact on our region is extraordinary,” said Stephen Russell, President and CEO of the San Diego Housing Federation. “She has helped shape the foundation of supportive housing in San Diego, and she does so with a rare combination of vision, humility, and heart. Simonne doesn’t just lead programs, she builds people, partnerships, and possibility.”
The Ruby Awards is the nation’s largest affordable housing recognition event, honoring the people, projects, and partnerships that are shaping stronger, more equitable communities. The 36th Annual Ruby Awards will take place on June 4, 2026, from 6 pm – 10 pm at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay. Tickets are available. For more information on the 2026 Ruby Awards, please visit our website.
Additional Ruby Awards categories include: Outstanding Resident Leader Award, Outstanding Service to Residents Award, Voice of Lived Experience Award, Distinguished Mentor for Emerging Leaders Collaborative Excellence Award, Exemplary Public Service Award, Supportive Housing Award, Rich Juarez Advocate Award, Project of the Year Award – Rehabilitation, Project of the Year Award - New Construction, and John Craven Public Service Memorial Award
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.
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