ESCONDIDO, Calif. — One of the few shelters for families experiencing homelessness in the county is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Interfaith Community Services has provided shelter to more than 30 families over the past year but they say the need in the community is continuing to grow.
"This is a challenging issue but we absolutely can help families end their homelessness," said Greg Anglea, the CEO of Interfaith Community Services.
The family shelter in Escondido has now been open for one year. It aims to provide a healing environment for parents and kids. It can house up to 12 families at a time.
"I think when we talk about children experiencing homelessness we can see it in their faces when they come in here. just how scared they are what they've been through," he said.
Many of the parents are employed or even have multiple jobs when they arrive but are unable to make ends meet. The shelter gives them time and resources to get back on their feet.
"We're trying to support the kids and the family to overcome the traumas of being homeless. We provide on-site counseling therapy and support," he said.
They've helped 31 families so far but the need continues to grow. There are now more than 120 families on the shelter's waitlist. Interfaith is hopeful they can meet the needs in the community.
"We've launched a campaign to end family homelessness. That might sound crazy but we're proposing and doing it day by day one family at a time," he said.
The shelter was created in partnership with city of Escondido, county and thousands of donors. Find more information if you're interested in volunteering, donating to Interfaith Community Services, here.