N E W S
Shelly J from left is shown with her four children and Terri Moreno, her case manager from Volunteers of America as well as Betty Bouchet and Joan McCollum of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, one of four that Shelly and her family stayed at this shelter season.
Aurora, a recent graduate of the El Nido Program, spoke at the June 29 graduation.
Estela, pictured here with Olivia Dorman, who served as mistress of ceremonies at the El Nido graduation ceremony, has two part time jobs and plans to go back to school in the fall.
Shelter Network helps Family get back on their feet
A recent guest of the
Interfaith Shelter Network's Rotational Shelter Program in East County was
featured on the local news.
Click the link below to see her story:
When asked
how she felt about the weeks she and her four children spent living at the
Interfaith Shelter Network Rotational Shelter Program in its
It was
just after one o’clock at the preschool where she works, and Shelly’s first
priority was to make sure all the little ones took their naps. “Please put
your head down, Edgar,” she said gently. With that matter settled, Shelly had
a moment to recap her recap her experiences. After losing her job last February,
Shelly was unable to pay for her rent at her home of nine years, and wound up
facing eviction. Shelly learned of the ISN Rotational Shelter Program through
one of the program’s case
management agency in East county, Volunteers
of America (VOA).
“I was
really scared about the thought of becoming homeless, but also anxious about
going to a shelter. I didn’t know what to expect,” said Shelly. “But our
stay turned out to be positive and edifying. The volunteers were awesome, so
kind. They made us feel welcome. In some ways, it was the small things that
mattered most. Like getting me an ice pack when my back was hurting, visiting
with us at dinner – or doing art projects with the kids so I could relax,”
said Shelly..With support the program, Shelly quickly got back on her feet. By
April, she found a job in her field (as a preschool teacher), and soon moved
with her children into a three-bedroom apartment.
The next
month, Shelly was invited to be a guest speaker at Interfaith Shelter
Network’s Volunteers Rock celebration. In sharing her story, Shelly tearfully
relayed how the “kindness of strangers” helped replace her feelings of
despair with hope. “Most of all, I want to thank you for your loving words of
encouragement,” she said to a packed auditorium of ISN volunteers, staff and
supporters. “I am incredibly grateful – and I plan to return the favor and
return as a volunteer myself!,” she added.
El Nido grads begin new life
Volunteers
and staff of the Interfaith Shelter
Network’s El Nido Transitional Housing Program honored five graduates at a
June 29 celebration at
Anna,
Margarita, Nellie, Mari Carmen, and Estela accepted accolades and briefly shared
their stories of struggle and success. Anna, mother of two children, has a
full-time job changing oil and adjusting brakes now and said she greatly
appreciated the help she received for her children and the legal assistance she
obtained while in the program. “I saved money, and I think my happiest moment
was being accepted into the program, then completing the goals I had set for
myself.”
Margarita,
the mother of three, attends school and works parttime. She completed English as
a Second Language classes while in the program and obtained status as a
permanent resident. Nellie, who has five children, was able to obtain a work
permit and drivers’ license. She now has her own apartment and wants to obtain
the education needed to become a social worker.
Mari
Carmen, who has two children, said she felt safe at El Nido. “The rules helped
me organize my life, and the therapy and legal assistance I was able to access
were invaluable. I am in a much better place now.” Mari Carmen has moved into
a three bedroom affordable apartment unit. “I leave El Nido with beautiful
memories,” she said.
Estela is
working two part-time jobs and completed English as a Second Language classes
while in the program. She is currently working as a home health attendant and
would like to obtain her certificate in day care. Her daughter is attending a
local private school on scholarship.
Olivia
Dorman, a member of the El Nido Transitional Housing Committee, served as
mistress of ceremonies, introducing each of the graduates and Aurora Castelum,
who graduate from the program two years ago. Castelum congratulated the
graduates and thanked El Nido staff for their help. “Someday I want to be a
social worker and help others like you helped me.”
Rosemary
Johnston, Program Director of the Interfaith Shelter Network, was the keynote
speaker. Noting that July 4 celebrates Independence Day for the
Upcoming shelter season has gaps
As
Interfaith Shelter Network staff prepare the shelter schedule for the coming
winter and spring, we have identified a few gaps in our sequential shelter
schedule in three of our seven branches. If your congregation is interested in
providing meals and overnight supervision for 12 homeless guests who are being
screened and monitored by a local human services agency, please contact Nancy
Toti, ISN outreach coordinator at (619)702-5399. The gaps and branches involved
are:
12 Dec - 26 Dec (
26 Dec - 9 Jan (
20 Feb - 6 Mar (
18 Dec - 1 Jan
(South Bay-- Community of
April 9 - May 7 (San
Diego Beaches—a congregation that hosted for many years and provided its
facilities to another congregation for an additional two weeks will no longer be
able to do so)
El Nido benefit Sept 30 2nd annual event
The Second Annual Sips for Shelter wine tasting benefit has been scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30 at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar. Reservation information will be available by the end of July.
Tickets will be $40 with proceeds benefiting the Interfaith
Shelter Network El Nido Transitional Housing Program for homeless battered women
with children. There will be a blind tasting contest as well as assorted
varietal wines to sample in addition to appetizers and entertainment poolside.
Please join us!
Volunteer workshop presenters needed
The Interfaith Shelter Network needs volunteers to teach
Budget Workshops and Career Planning Workshops at local religious congregations
throughout
If you are interested in volunteering to facilitate a Career
Planning or Budget Workshop, please call Nancy Toti at the Interfaith Shelter
Network offices – (619) 702-5399, or e-mail ntoti@interfaithshelter.org.
Shelter guest thanks volunteers
Among those assisted by the rotational shelter are single individuals who
have been “displaced” by today’s turbulent job market. Such was the case
with Scott. A former cargo flight manager at Lindbergh Field, Scott had always
worked, and never imagined he'd ever be homeless. But that's how he ended up,
living on the streets for about eight months until recently.
Scott’s journey back to self-sufficiency started with a referral to
Presbyterian Urban Ministries, one of the rotational shelter’s social service
providers. Scott was soon enrolled in the program, through which he received
housing, showers, hygiene supplies, clothing, bus passes, and access to other
resources. But Scott says the most important help he received was the caring
attitude of the volunteers who stayed with him. “When
you’re homeless, no one will even look at you, much less talk with you or even
treat you like a human being. But here, the volunteers not only cooked for me,
they’d sit down and dine with me, genuinely taking an interest in my life.
That really made a difference,” said Scott, who credits that support for
helping him get a fresh start on life.
While in the program, Scott began working
again, and made friends with other residents who later became his roommates.
Future success stories rely on Network gifts
As you read about the successes of Shelly, Scott, and our fire El Nido graduates, remember that the Network needs to raise $183,000 annually in donations from individuals and foundations to supplement its government funding. Please help us continue to provide services and resources to future success stories by sending in a donation today. Give the gift of hope to future shelter guests and El Nido families.
LOCAL PRESS CUTTINGS
Recent rains push winter shelters near limits -- Dec 15, 2009 by Cigi
Ross
A series of heavy storms and chilly overnight temperatures have nearly maxed out
regional homeless shelters as people seek respite and a warm bed, organizers
said this week....(More)
From homelessness to sharing the stage -- Jul 17, 2008 by Michelle D
Anderson
Two years ago, Edith Espinoza
would have never imagined that she would one day share the stage with the
president of the United States...(More)
La Jolla Churches work together to help neighbors in need -- Jan 17,
2008 by Gina McGalliard
Although differences in religion
sometimes divide people, those of different faiths can also come together to
work for a common purpose...(More)
Cities, agencies joined for a regional solution -- Jan 13, 2008 by
Linda Lou
The sun had gone down, and the air was getting chilly.
But several dozen homeless men and women knew they had a cot...(More)