Elvis Chavez

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:

elvis@justcleanitsd.com

https://operationhopeshelter.org

https://interfaithservices.org/volunteer

 Youtube Apple Spotify

Lisa Halverstadt

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: lisa@vosd.org

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/

DA Summer Stephan

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/

Brother Batie

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/ 

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Mario Melgoza

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

Youtube Apple Spotify

Jennifer Nations

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.

Links:

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

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Ana & Saul

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

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Robert & Nikole

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 life-changing support they provide.

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

Youtube Apple Spotify

Tamera Kohler

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.

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

Also available on these platforms below

Kenneth Straight

On this episode of Homeless in San Diego, hear Kenneth Straight’s remarkable journey. After his service in the US Army ended in 2013, Kenneth struggled to regain stability upon returning to San Diego. Support from Veterans Village of San Diego during his recovery was a turning point. Interfaith's Veterans Employment and Training Services Program then provided the crucial support he needed to secure employment, including covering the cost of necessary safety classes. Now working as a machinist, with personal protective equipment and tools provided by Interfaith, Kenneth has rebuilt his life and now shares a home with his wife and dog.

Links: 

https://wfw.org/ 

https://vvsd.net/standdown/