Marlon

As we take a short break lets reflect on one of our most popular episodes.

Please note that new phone number is: 760.489.6380

Marlon is a Navy veteran from New Jersey. After serving for 20 years and being deployed to San Diego, he was able to retire in 2012. Yet, after being affected by an identity fraud scam, he was forced to come out of retirement and struggled financially. Fortunately, after connecting with someone who referred him to Interfaith, he was able to receive the right job training to put his life back on course.

Today, Marlon is doing a lot for himself and his community. He is the founder and owner of his own business, Blue Sky Enterprise (BSE) Security Services. He actively employs veterans and refers them to job training opportunities; all while taking the first steps to establish his own non-profit. Named LOV (Love Our Veterans), Marlon plans on building a veterans home for young and old vets to help one another achieve success.

Candi

Candi Milo is one of the busiest actresses in voice-overs today and is honored to have taken the mantle from the legendary late June Foray as the voice of Granny for all of Warner Brothers Animation projects. Milo is a successful actor and Annie Award nominee best known for voicing Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory and The Flea in Mucha Lucha, along with literally thousands of other well-known characters. Her recent memoir, "Surviving the Odd," covers the topical concepts of how we deal with people experiencing homelessness as well as those with mental health problems as seen through the eyes of a child. She learned by watching how the outside world treats people experiencing homelessness vs. Her own experiences of living with people experiencing homelessness while growing up. She is a passionate advocate for people dealing with mental illness and homelessness

Amy Denhart: Effective Messaging Strategies for Housing as a Solution to Homelessness

Amy Denhart is the Director of Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego (FTEHSD) at Catalyst, where she supports FTEHSD's strategic grantmaking and advocacy in systems change and permanent housing opportunities to reduce homelessness. 

 For the past 22 years, Amy held positions in fundraising, public policy, and community engagement. During more than a decade as Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood, she worked with donors and the Board of Directors to advance public policy in support of reproductive health care. Prior to that, she was Area Director for US Senator Barbara Boxer, serving as the Senator’s liaison to the San Diego community, connecting constituents to the Senate and other government bodies. Just prior to joining FTEHSD, Amy worked closely with the City of San Diego and County governments as the lead finance and contract management staff for a local community engagement and design firm. She has served on the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation committee and is currently a board member on the Regional Task Force on the Homeless. 

FunderstogetherSD.org

Gregg

At the University of Washington, Gregg enjoys teaching courses in housing, economics, and finance at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He maintains an active research agenda focused on housing policy, housing markets, housing affordability, and homelessness. Gregg is also actively engaged in a wide range of community efforts to address the acute housing crisis

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Anna & Officer Ferry

Anna is a licensed social worker and member of Interfaith’s Homeless Outreach team, who works closely with Officer Ferry of the Oceanside Police Department’s Homeless Outreach. The H.O.T. works closely with several service providers to help accomplish this goal by connecting these individuals with the various resources that are available to them to assist them in finding permanent housing.

Dane

Dane White sees opportunities for helping one another through challenges and improving our local communities.  He joins us today sharing his very personal journey overcoming homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges.  Dane shares what always got him through the tough times was knowing someone loved him and cared.  Dane can trace his lineage in Escondido back for five generations and is an active business and community member locally.  He is hoping to help more people like himself overcome obstacles and embrace opportunities.  https://www.danemwhite.com/

Isaac

Isaac came through Interfaith twice, and has now been sober for over 20 months (longest duration in over 20 years). In his own words, “the biggest turning point was deciding to stay sober no matter what was going on, and realizing I did not have to be miserable the rest of life. Seeing my own strength. Taking the first step was hard and then once you hit a stride, nothing stops you. Interfaith is a safe place and everyone treated me like family.” 

Gary

Gary Warth, journalist with the San Diego Union Tribune and San Diego resident since the 1970’s, brings years of storytelling centering homelessness throughout the region, and a variety of beats since 1989. One of the stories Gary shared in our conversation was his recent coverage of Dr. Gregg Colburn’s recent book, Homelessness is a Housing Problem. You can read Gary’s July 2022 article about homelessness in San Diego that he references in our conversation: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/homelessness/story/2022-07-11/new-book-links-homelessness-city-prosperity

Mei Bautista/Humanitote

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.

Monique

Monique is resilient. She is a mother of eight, has many years’ experience serving as site supervisors for children’s centers, and the tables turned when her husband became disabled and the birth of a baby left the family without income. Over 10 years ago, Interfaith helped pay for rent, and steered her toward educational options. Monique shares with us her turbulent journey overcoming homelessness, domestic violence and losing custody of her kids.  Monique is deeply inspiring, resilient and strong and is achieving great goals in supporting families and children overcoming trauma.  “Our past does not define us, our past strengthens us to learn from our different experiences, to help others, it’s empowering, and you can do great things in the world.”  Indeed, Monique is doing great things in the world.