So Far So Good at St. Vincent’s East County Winter Shelter
Clients, Community Enthusiastic About Program

   SAN DIEGO — Nearly two weeks since its opening, St. Vincent de Paul Village’s East County Seasonal Shelter is garnering favorable reviews from clients and the community alike.

   Tony Sterzinger, St. Vincent’s seasonal shelter program manager, says the transition from the St. Alban’s Church tent city to the new sprung structure has been very smooth.

   "The transition has happened with little incident," he says. "The people who want to participate in the rehabilitative programs have clung to them."

   St. Vincent’s staff has already begun offering myriad services to help nine families, 13 children and 95 single adults get back on their feet and into mainstream society.

   "Project Safe Child is on-site offering its services and a St. Vincent’s health nurse visits regularly to administer much-needed TB shots," Sterzinger says.

   In the next several weeks those services will grow to include programs designed to help the clients find permanent housing and stable employment, says Sterzinger.

   "We’re working closely with the Village’s Career and Education Department," he says. "We have job and housing fairs planned for next month."

   In addition, St. Vincent’s staff has been working closely with other social services agencies, including Crisis House, San Diego County’s Homeless Family Outreach Team and Home Star to identify long-term transitional housing opportunities for clients not yet ready to make the step into a permanent living arrangement, Sterzinger says.

   The early success of St. Vincent’s winter shelter program is not only the work of motivated clients and staff, but also due to the support of the community.

   "Folks are stopping by all the time with donations of food and clothing," Sterzinger says. "They see the kind of quality program we have in place to help our less fortunate neighbors, and the community is really making a concerted effort to support it."

   For more information (media only) on St. Vincent de Paul Village’s East County Seasonal Shelter Program, call (619) 525-1608.

# # #