Anglea is CEO of Interfaith Community Services and lives in Escondido.
As a father of two creative, ionate and strong-willed kiddos, I know the joys and challenges of fatherhood. No matter what we face, though, I am constantly aware of how fortunate we are to have a roof over our heads. Increasingly, however, many families, including more fathers, are desperately struggling without a stable home for their children. As we honor the father figures in our lives this Father’s Day, I’d like to bring visibility to resilient homeless dads and the families they are ing.
According to the Regional Taskforce on Homelessness San Diego, approximately 3,700 families sought help last year to overcome homelessness in our region. While many of these families are headed by single mothers, a growing number also include fathers.
Despite the myths, no one aspires to be homeless. Those who are frequently face systemic barriers like discrimination and a lack of access to affordable education, health care and housing. The median rent in San Diego County is $3,095, making it nearly impossible for lower income workers to afford basic living expenses. The current wait time for rent subsidy from the San Diego Housing Commission is 15 years, with a waitlist of nearly 60,000 households.
Last October, Interfaith Community Services opened an emergency shelter for families with children in Escondido – the first of its kind in our region. Made possible with from the city of Escondido, yjr County of San Diego and our donors, the shelter serves up to 12 families at a time. Families have access to childcare, counseling, nutrition and other ive services. Almost all our parents are fully employed upon entry or gain full employment within weeks.
Currently, we have five two-parent families in the shelter. One of our dads is Valentine, a devoted father from Escondido who used to run a tree-trimming business. His family became homeless after a series of unfortunate events. An accident left him unable to work, and a medical issue led to his wife’s unemployment. With no incomes and bills stacking up, they had no safety net. He told us, “As a father, I see myself as the captain of my family’s ship. But with what happened to us, I feel like I’ve let my family down.”
But Valentine is resilient, dedicated to his family, and just needs some help during a challenging time. He’s been grateful for the hope offered by Interfaith through socio-emotional as well as employment and financial security planning. Meanwhile, Valentine’s wife is working toward completing her bachelor’s in sociology at Cal State San Marcos later this year.
It’s just a matter of time until Valentine’s family is living independently again, like the Soto family we recently helped. The Sotos and their four children faced homelessness after Dad’s construction hours were reduced. He quickly found alternative full-time employment, and Mom works full-time for Amazon, but it wasn’t enough.
In February, on the brink of eviction, they came to Interfaith for help. We secured them a new apartment home and ed the first month’s rent. We also provided gas vouchers; food, hygiene and baby supplies; move-in assistance and ongoing case management. The Sotos are now comfortably housed, and from our continued check-ins we know they are stable and thriving.
This is what we work toward for every individual and family facing homelessness. Our focus on addressing poverty and homelessness is critical to creating a safe and prosperous future for the city of Escondido – which Interfaith has called home for over 40 years – and beyond. Our commitment to action is evident in these stories and the data. Last year, our programs facilitated the transition to stable housing for 1,470 individuals, transforming lives and strengthening the fabric of our community.
This Father’s Day, to all the dads who are continuing to their families despite struggles with housing and homelessness, we see you, we you, and we are here for you and your entire family.
