We are happy to welcome back Mei. Mei inspires all of us at Interfaith.  In Mei’s own words, she “suffered bouts of homelessness throughout her life and has managed to obtain secure housing and push forward through many years of trauma since childhood. “ In 2020, Mei opened Daydream, a gift shop located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Escondido, and launched a separate line selling her handmade “Humanitote” bags. For every bag sold, Mei donates a Humanitote bag to Interfaith filled with toiletries which are given directly to Humans experiencing homelessness.  As a business owner, and Interfaith partner, Mei furthered her work by collaborating on an ongoing fundraising event called Breakfast & Bags “for a unified effort in helping Interfaith help our houseless neighbors in need,” at Sunny Side Kitchen in Escondido where she launches each new Humanitote Collection at the event. We are grateful to Mei and Sunny Side Kitchen for their support!  Breakfast & Bags are held on the second Saturday of each month from 8am-12pm. Join us in supporting Mei by visiting her store, Daydream in Escondido, and supporting her Humanitote project at https://www.daydreamhere.com/page/humanitote-project.

Mei pt.2

Homeless in San Diego: Real People, Real Stories, is a podcast created by Interfaith Community Services, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization located in North San Diego County. Hosted by Greg Anglea, CEO of Interfaith Community Services, each episode features a local professional's perspective on the issue of homelessness, as well as shares the real story of an individual or family who has experienced homelessness in San Diego.

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

News

This week on Homeless in San Diego, we welcome filmmaker Jason Ritchie, a storyteller driven by the struggles of his own life. Ritchie was incarcerated for over 17 years in the California prison system and has overcome drug and alcohol addiction. He used education for his personal rehabilitation and believes it to be a crucial contributing factor for success in re-entry and recovery. Through Project Rebound, Ritchie has gone on to graduate from SDSU with an Interdisciplinary BA in Film, Journalism, and Art, and was accepted into a Master’s program in Learning Design and Technology. His goal is to help others tell their stories of incarceration and addiction in the hopes of bringing awareness that these issues do not discriminate. Ritchie recently received a fellowship through Columbia University's INCITE program, an interdisciplinary institute that produces knowledge for public action at Columbia University. There, he is creating an experiential theatrical installation piece titled "Street Seen." The play is expected to debut in November and invites audiences to view life from the perspective of people who live on the streets. Don't miss this inspiring episode that challenges perceptions and showcases the strength found in second chances.   https://www.theunhousedcollective.org/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiegounhousedcollective/    https://www.voicesofourcity.org/   https://www.housingsandiego.org/heal-network   https://www.housingca.org/our-work/run/   https://incite.columbia.edu/mission     https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/student-success/project-rebound  

Jason Ritchie

In honor of Volunteer Appreciation month we have a remarkable podcast episode for you.   Our guest today is none other than David Fitzgibbons, a dedicated volunteer and donor at Interfaith. David has been serving as an intake volunteer every Tuesday and Thursday for over four years, helping to meet the basic needs of our community. He assists with obtaining food, hygiene products, clothes, resources, and connects people with a Case Manager as needed. David's commitment to our community is exemplary, and we are grateful for his service. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, and we invite you to listen in and hear David's perspective. You might even be inspired to become our next intake volunteer. https://interfaithservices.org/volunteer/ https://interfaithservices.org/donate/ https://interfaithservices.org/donation-inquiry/

David Fitzgibbons

"I think one of the things I'm most proud of about the organization and obviously your leadership is a huge part of that, is that the organization has taken this bold stance to say we are going to stand up against injustice, we are going to serve the most vulnerable, be proud of it, and we're not going to be quiet about it." Dr. Nate Sessoms This week, we have a very special episode in store for 'Homeless in San Diego.' For the first time ever, our podcast is hosted by Dr. Nate Sessoms, CEO of Success Beyond Measure, and our Board Chair, Dr. Kadri Webb. Join them as they explore this year's theme, 'African Americans and the Arts,' delve into black history, and discuss its personal significance. They will share their experiences, stories, and accomplishments, shedding light on Interfaith’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) within the community.

Dr. Kadri Webb & Dr. Nate Sessoms

Joining CEO of Interfaith Community Services, Greg Anglea,  are 3 employees each with their own diverse careers and their take on the Point In Time Count. Throughout the podcast, we tackle essential questions, such as the motivation behind participating in the PITC, the personal experiences of those involved, and the impact of the count on our community. Discover the stories behind the statistics, uncover the reasons people decide to work with those experiencing homelessness, and explore the concept of "meeting people where they are at."   2023 Data :  https://www.rtfhsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-City-of-San-Diego-Region-Breakdown.pdf   Volunteer: https://www.interfaithservices.org/volunteer/

Point In Time Count 2024

Interfaith's podcast, 'Homeless in San Diego,' is making a grand return! Not only are we launching the first episode back with senior investigative reporter Lisa Halverstadt, but going forward each episode will have a video version. Lisa Halverstadt is a senior investigative reporter for Voice of San Diego who has been digging into the region’s homelessness crisis for more than eight years. Join us for this episode as we interview Lisa the most tenured reporter on homelessness in San Diego. As we cover our broken homeless system, the increased need for behavioral health beds, and the challenges people face experiencing homelessness. If you have ever wondered how difficult it is for people to get help this episode offers invaluable insight. Make sure to look at the show notes below P.S. After we recorded this episode Lisa released a two-part in-depth story on homeless hospital patients detailing the complex reality our San Diegans face on a daily basis. If you have the time we highly encourage you to read the story as well. Email: lisa@vosd.org X: @LisaHalverstadt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-halverstadt-781a283/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaHalverstadt https://www.homelessinsandiego.org/listen/jen  https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/11/03/law-could-increase-demand-for-often-elusive-addiction-treatment/ https://www.talesofthestreet.com/ vosd.org/lisa  https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/01/03/county-under-pressure-to-deliver-more-behavioral-health-beds/  https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/12/28/san-diegos-homeless-response-took-a-punitive-turn-in-2023/  https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/01/31/theyre-medically-cleared-get-them-out-why-homeless-hospital-patients-end-up-on-the-street/  https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/02/06/why-shelter-is-often-elusive-for-homeless-hospital-patients/ 

Mei pt.2

Download our free app to listen on your phone