On this week's episode of Homeless in San Diego, we sit down with Natalie and her daughter, Lulu, to hear their story. Natalie is a dedicated housing advocate whose personal experience fuels her passion for change. After losing bartending jobs during COVID, she and her family of five found themselves living in a motor home bouncing around San Diego until they found stability through a housing voucher — a lifeline now at risk due to funding shifts under HR1.

This episode shows why support systems matter. Having access to housing, resources, and community support can be the difference between instability and a path toward stability.

Links:

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2022/06/22/inside-one-familys-homelessness-nightmare/

https://give.interfaithservices.org/campaign/729839/donate

This week's episode of Homeless in San Diego features Elvis, a former family shelter resident with an incredible story of resilience. He shares how he and his kids found themselves without housing, their strength to overcome it, and the kindness that helped them rebuild.

It's a heartfelt reminder that homelessness can affect anyone and with the right support and determination, you can gain a sense of normalcy.

Links:

[email protected]

https://operationhopeshelter.org

https://interfaithservices.org/volunteer

In our latest episode of Homeless in San Diego, we're excited to welcome back Lisa Halverstadt, senior investigative reporter at Voice of San Diego. She returns to share about her new guide on ethically reporting homelessness, created in collaboration with the Homelessness Beat Reporters Collective.

Links:

Email: [email protected]

X: @LisaHalverstadt

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-halverstadt-781a283/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaHalverstadthttps://

https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2025/how-to-report-cover-homelessness-unhoused-people/

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/05/28/experiment-to-clear-homeless-camp-seems-to-be-working/

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/06/30/black-san-diegans-disproportionately-arrested-on-prop-36-charges/

vosd.org/lisa

https://voiceofsandiego.org/ways-to-give/

In this week's episode of Homeless in San Diego, we welcome San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan to discuss the launch of their new Shelter Ready app. During its beta testing phase, Interfaith's Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) used the app to help connect community members with available shelter beds. In collaboration with the DA's office and several nonprofit partners, the pilot has helped demonstrate Shelter Ready's potential to better connect people with available services across San Diego County.

Links:

https://www.shelterready.org/

https://danewscenter.com/news/innovative-shelter-ready-app-expanding-countywide/

https://onesafeplacenorth.org/

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/06/30/black-san-diegans-disproportionately-arrested-on-prop-36-charges/

On this edition of Homeless in San Diego, we're honored to welcome Brother Batie, Social Services Program Director at the YMCA of San Diego County. He shares powerful insights from his work in the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) homelessness sector, as well as his own lived experience with homelessness as a North County native.

Recently recognized as Program Staff Member of the Year by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, Brother Batie brings both expertise and heart to his work.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/brother.batie/

https://www.instagram.com/ymcasandiego/

https://www.ymcasd.org/community-support/ymca-youth-and-family-services/

This week on Homeless in San Diego, we're honored to welcome Mario, a recent graduate of our detox and residential program, and his Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor, Sandy. Mario shares his powerful story of recovery, the challenges he's overcome, and how his time at Interfaith's detox center gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

Links:

https://interfaithservices.org/services/treatment/

Withdrawal Management Number: 760 489-6380 *193

HIPAA Compliant Text Line: 760 203-3350

Tune in to this data-driven episode of Interfaith's Homeless in San Diego, where we explore the landscape of homelessness in our region. Joining us is Dr. Jennifer Nations, Managing Director of UC San Diego's Homelessness Hub, who shares insights from her new study, Homelessness Trends and Overnight Emergency Services in San Diego County, and explains how her applied research supports policy and program changes related to housing affordability, transportation, evictions, and health.

Homelessness Hub Website: https://homelessnesshub.ucsd.edu/ Report 1 Homelessness Trends and Overnight Emergency Services in San Diego County, June 2024. Access Report 1 here Report 2 Passing Through and Staying Put: Emergency Shelter Trajectories in San Diego County, 2018-2023, January 2025. Access Report 2 here

Don't miss this episode of Interfaith's Homeless in San Diego to see how Neighborhood Healthcare's street medicine team is making a local impact. Meet Ana, Peer Support Specialist, and Saul, Street Medicine Medical Assistant, as they share how they provide medical care, support sobriety, and collaborate with Interfaith.

Links:

https://www.nhcare.org/

Withdrawal Management Number: 760 489-6380 #193

HIPAA Compliant Text Line: 760 203-3350

City Council

The meeting for our Detox expansion will take place on Wednesday, February 19th at 5 p.m. at Escondido City Hall (201 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025). Free public parking is available in several municipal lots on the City Hall campus.

Wear Interfaith blue for support!

To write a letter of support click here: https://win.newmode.net/intesa/550wwashingtonconditionalusepermitdetoxmodification/clone

More info and where to get Narcan:

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/mcsd/mcsd/outreach-&-education/Street%20Medicine%20Contact%20List.pdf

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/od2a/naloxone.html

This week's episode of Homeless in San Diego delves into the critical work being done to combat addiction and help people experiencing homelessness. Hear from Certified SUD Counselor Robert and our Peer Support Specialist Nikole at Interfaith's Recovery and Wellness Center. Learn about the comprehensive support they provide, from initial withdrawal management (detox) to our ongoing residential programs designed to help individuals rebuild their lives.

Links:

Withdrawal Management Number: 760 489-6380 #193

HIPAA Compliant Text Line: 760 203-3350

City Council

The meeting for our Detox expansion will take place on Wednesday, February 19th at 5 p.m. at Escondido City Hall (201 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025). Free public parking is available in several municipal lots on the City Hall campus.

Wear Interfaith blue for support!

To write a letter of support click here: https://win.newmode.net/intesa/550wwashingtonconditionalusepermitdetoxmodification/clone

More info and where to get Narcan: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/od2a/naloxone.html

Today we're talking with Tamera Kohler, Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH). With 19 years of experience in addressing poverty and homelessness, Tamera provides invaluable insights into the complex landscape of homelessness in our region. We discuss her leadership at the RTFH since 2018, her role as a trusted expert in San Diego County, and, importantly, delve into the upcoming Point-in-Time Count. This crucial count provides a snapshot of homelessness in our community and informs critical resource allocation and policy decisions. Click the link in the bio to watch or listen to this important conversation.

Links:

https://sandiego.pointintime.info/

https://www.rtfhsd.org/reports-data/

https://www.rtfhsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RTFH-HMIS-Data-Newsletter-Dec-2024.pdf

https://www.rtfhsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-PITC-Regional-Cities-Breakdown-revised-Final-June-17-1.pdf