Arctic Storm Leaves, But Overflow Shelters Still Full
Economic Slowdown, High Rents Forcing Families With Children to Streets

   SAN DIEGO — The unusually cold air and rain that surprised many San Diegans are slowly leaving the area. But homeless families with children and single adults accessing St. Vincent de Paul Village’s overflow shelters still remain.

   President of St. Vincent’s, Fr. Joe Carroll, says his organization’s shelters were full long before this week’s inclement weather reached San Diego; an economic slowdown coupled with the ever-increasing cost of housing in the county are causes of the jump in the number of people coming to St. Vincent’s for emergency shelter services.

   "Within the past couple of weeks, two companies in San Diego have shut their doors," he says. "K-Mart is looking to close some of its locations as well. For a dual-parent family where both mom and dad are working full-time, the loss of one entire source of income is devastating."

   Fr. Joe says not only are employment opportunities disappearing, but also the rise in housing costs has been relentless.

   "People who are living paycheck-to-paycheck as well as senior citizens and disabled individuals who are on fixed incomes cannot afford rent increases," he says.

   St. Vincent’s operates overflow shelters out of two dining rooms located at its 1501 Imperial Avenue location. In one, 90 family members, including 62 children, sleep on the tile floor nightly. The other offers shelter to 180 single adults. Those numbers are in addition to the 855 clients already staying at the Village, participating in its short- and long-term residential programs.

   St. Vincent’s also operates the city’s 250-bed single adult seasonal shelter located at the corner of 16th Street and Newton Avenue and the La Mesa Family Shelter, 8379 Center Drive, which last night slept 89 people, including 55 children.

   For media inquiries, call (619) 525-1608.

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