ESCONDIDO, Calif. — A new push to help families facing homelessness in San Diego County, Interfaith Community Services just opened a new shelter in Escondido.
"It's a cycle. It's a cycle that you can't get out of each day," said Amy.
For the past year, Amy and her two boys slept in motels and her car. They now have a place to call their temporary home and are staying at the new shelter.
"By the time I picked up my boys from school they realized they had a bed. They had drawers to put their stuff in," she said.
"They're able to be kids here, we have a good routine. My son says the chefs here are world famous chefs," she said.
Interfaith Community Services new shelter can accommodate up to 12 families at a time. Families staying there have access to childcare and counseling to help prevent the long-term impacts of homelessness.
"A lot of times I find families and children that come through here, kind of lose their sense of identity and aren't sure where they're going. It's a big stressor," said Patricia Mack, a family shelter clinical therapist.
Interfaith was just awarded $5 million to help with rental assistance and maintain the shelter. Many families they assist are facing homelessness for the first time.
"They're fighting tooth and nail to improve their lives and be the best parent they can for their children and simply don't have a home they can afford," said Greg Anglea, CEO of Interfaith Community Services.
Thanks to the new shelter, families like Amy's have a safe place to sleep tonight.
"I'm so relieved and actually have hope today," she said.
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