OUR STORIES
At Father Joe’s Villages, we’ve seen lives transformed, hope renewed and dignity restored. Read the real stories of the people we’ve served.
Investing in Children: Patrick Strives for a Better Life for His Family
A father of seven children, Patrick always worked extra hard to support his family. However, after being let go from his job as a Lead Electronic Assembly Specialist, Patrick became unable to pay his rent and he and his family ended up losing their home. When they became homeless, Father Joe’s Villages was there to offer support and resources.
How Housing Helps Families in Need: Michelle’s Story
Even when her family was homeless, Michelle’s resiliency and courage helped her family shine. Now, she and her children have found incredible educational, employment and life success. Learn about how Michelle and her family thrived with help from Father Joe’s Villages.
A Fresh Start: Alejandro Cooks Up a Better Future
At Father Joe’s Villages, we believe in the potential of our clients. Our sector-based vocational training programs, including our long-standing Culinary Arts Program, open the door to a new, hopeful future for individuals like Alejandro. Shelter from the Storm A San...
Health and Homelessness: Elizabeth’s Story
For those struggling to pay rent, a serious illness or disability can quickly cause a downward spiral into homelessness. When Elizabeth contracted Bacterial Meningitis, her entire world fell apart. Father Joe’s Villages helped her put the pieces back together. The...
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS BLOG
Working in Therapeutic Childcare weighed heavy on me. I pushed through it for the kids.
Hutcherson is manager of Therapeutic Childcare at Father Joe’s Villages and lives in Lakeside. I am a boomerang. Never in a million years did I think I would be back. But then again, back before 2010, never in a million years did I think I would leave. I started my...
As a teen, Father Joe’s supported my family through a hard time. Now I work there.
Black is manager at the Father Joe’s Villages Thrift Store in Hillcrest and lives in Chula Vista. My Father Joe’s Villages story actually begins with my mother about 16 years ago. She was a single parent who got back on her feet after drug and alcohol use. After she...
Bad teeth made it harder to address my homelessness, until Father Joe’s restored my smile
Lane is a Father Joe’s Villages program participant and lives in East Village. I am a talker, but you wouldn’t know that if you’d met me a few years ago. I became homeless due to several circumstances in my life. I was living on the street with few resources. My...
Our cycling program gives homeless San Diegans an outlet for fun and a pathway to freedom
Roberts is a deacon and chaplaincy program manager at Father Joe’s Villages and lives in San Diego. It gives me great joy to work with the employees and volunteers to provide accompaniment to our neighbors at Father Joe’s Villages. I began my journey with Father Joe...
Podcast S2 Ep. 3-24: Turning The Key: Affordable Housing
Join the conversation on the Neighbors Helping Neighbors podcast from Father Joe's Villages. We discuss our Turning the Key initiative, affordable housing, its costs, challenges, current availability, and how it affects neighbors experiencing homelessness. Co-hosts...
Women’s History Month at Father Joe’s Villages
We are celebrating Women's History Month this March at Father Joe's Villages! The National Women’s History Alliance sets a theme for the month every year. This year’s theme is "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” We have seen women make...
Our Day Center offers showers, mail services and homeless services many don’t know about
Scheck is manager of the San Diego Day Center at Father Joe’s Villages and lives in Santee. I am the manager of the San Diego Day Center at Father Joe’s Villages, where people experiencing homelessness can receive basic needs we all take for granted. Things like...
Father Joe Carroll’s empowering approach to social work has inspired me for 25 years
Bruland is the chief program officer at Father Joe’s Villages and lives in La Mesa. If you came on the Village campus in the fall of 1998, you maybe would have seen me during my once-a-month visit to San Diego. If you’ve come onto the Village campus in 2023, odds are...
Opinion: Looking for a job as a homeless person comes with obstacles. Here’s how I overcame them.
Grant is a Father Joe’s Villages’ program participant and lives in San Diego. I work at Bloomingdale’s. That’s my reality now. Here’s what it used to be: The bills are piling up and my mind is telling me everything will be OK if I could just find a job. I have job...