Veteran’s Housing In Oceanside

Help A Veteran with Housing In Oceanside TODAY

North County Interfaith Council, dba Interfaith Community Services, was founded in 1979 by a handful of diverse faith communities to address the needs of low-income, homeless, and underserved populations. These faith centers regularly encountered individuals in crisis, but were incapable of meeting their needs. Individually, the faith centers were giving handouts, but by creating Interfaith, they were better able to produce change in the lives of the hungry, substance abusers, the mentally ill, homeless, and the unemployed.

As membership and participation grew, Interfaith evolved into a continuum of programs and services that provides the tools and resources people in crisis need to stabilize and rebuild their lives. These programs are organized into five main areas: basic needs, housing, counseling, employment services, and drug & alcohol rehabilitation. Under these department headings are numerous programs covering a broad spectrum of support. Programs are designed to overlap so that each client receives as many services as necessary for his/her specific situation.

Interfaith offers 12 programs throughout North San Diego County, from the coastal City of Oceanside to inland communities south and east of our Escondido headquarters. With more than 3,400 volunteers in direct service, more than 400 member faith centers, and 100 professional staff, Interfaith served 33,700 unique persons with a variety of services just last year. Our staff and volunteers reflect the cultural diversity of each community where we offer programs.

Interfaith’s annual budget exceeds $9 million, and Interfaith’s overhead costs, defined as management and fundraising, are only 9.6%. We have successfully managed millions of dollars from numerous federal, state, county and municipal grants. Interfaith has also been part of national studies by Columbia University and the University of Houston, which have measured and touted the exceptional efforts of Interfaith as national models for welfare reform (Columbia University) and faith-based community development (University of Houston).The Coalition Ministries and Congregations Study completed by Houston was, in fact, funded in part by the Lilly Endowment.

How To Help Today with Transitional Housing for Veterans in Oceanside

Three facilities offer 144 beds for homeless veterans. The newest of those facilities provides lodging for 72 men and women in an apartment complex in Oceanside. In Escondido, Merle’s Place provides a dormitory arrangement for 44 men, and two apartment buildings on Aster Street have 28 beds for male clients. Merle’s Place is named for Merle Fischlowitz, a long-time supporter of Interfaith Community Services.
While housed in the three shared-living facilities, tenants – including seniors and the disabled – work with case management on plans to transition to independent living and, in some cases, to retirement or assisted living arrangements. For most clients, the transitional living period of up to 24 months provides them the opportunity to achieve stability by gaining income and finding permanent housing. Use of alcohol or illegal drugs is banned in the transitional, residential housing programs, which are funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

We need about $500,000 to pay off the mortgage on the Veterans Transitional Housing complex, and if you are a veteran, want to honor a veteran, want to honor the service of all veterans, or simply want to help transition a servant into a productive and fulfilling life, then please consider helping.

You can donate to Veteran’s Housing in Oceanside by contacting Interfaith Community Services using the enclosed form, or simply call:

Greg Anglea
Director of Development
(760) 489-6380 x220
ganglea@interfaithservices.org

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