St. Vincent de Paul Village - Summer 2002

1. Village Breaks Ground on Villa Harvey Mandel
   By Staff Writer
2. Security Team Saves Lives
   By Staff Writer
3. HUD Secretary Tours St. Vincent’s
   By Martha Lepore
4. Children’s Benefit Honors Bill O’Reilly and Community Leaders
   By Martha Lepore
5. The Graduates’ Challenge: Stay Clean and Sober Every Day
   By Martha Lepore

HUD Secretary Tours St. Vincent’s
By Martha Lepore

   Once homeless himself, HUD Secretary Mel Martinez has challenged his agency to end chronic homelessness in the next 10 years.

   During his visit to San Diego last April, Martinez toured St. Vincent de Paul Village and lauded the homeless rehabilitation program developed by Father Joe. “Until today, I didn’t know if we could make our goal. But if I could energize the rest of the country with Father Joe’s enthusiasm and success,” he said, “then it probably can be done.”

   Martinez noted that the White House recently announced a $1 billion federal grant for homeless assistance. “This commitment is being coupled with the reactivation of the Interagency Council on Homelessness. The problem isn’t just a housing issue, it has many components,” he noted. “We’re going to be working with Health and Human Services, Veteran’s Affairs, and Labor and Education, because they are all agencies that touch upon the problem.”

   “President Bush made it very clear he believes that the armies of compassion in faith-based organizations in this country are part of the solution,” said Martinez. “Partnering with faith-based organizations is an essential part of how we’re going to succeed in issues like homelessness.”

   “I am tremendously impressed with what you are doing,” Martinez told Father Joe after touring the Joan Kroc Center, Bishop Maher Center and Paul Mirabile Center. “I want to thank all of your community volunteers and partners and helpers, because what you are doing here is obviously remarkable and having a positive impact on people’s lives.”

   Martinez spent some time with the children at the Joan Kroc Center, asking what they had been studying. His affinity for homeless children recalls a time in 1962 when he was a 15-year-old Cuban refugee taken into the American foster care system.

   During his visit, the HUD secretary learned about Father Joe’s Villages newly established comprehensive foster care program for children, PromiseLand Ranch, from its Executive Director Father Bill Metzdorf. “It’s absolutely fascinating to see all that you plan to do,” Martinez told Metzdorf. “I must say, having spent four years of my life in foster care, I understand the issues involved, especially being able to trust adults and to achieve family reunification.”

   Father Joe’s Villages and its collaborating partners have received more than $13 million from HUD in the past 10 years.