Operates throughout North Inland and Coastal San Diego County
Many service men and women find that when they leave the military, their skills do not immediately transfer to the civilian job market. Others encounter difficulties adjusting to civilian life, or become homeless or unemployed due to problems and events in their lives. Interfaith's veterans programs are designed to eliminate barriers to employment and self-sufficiency through the provision of basic needs, case management, vocational training, and job placement assistance. Any veteran is eligible for services, as long as s/he has not received a dishonorable discharge.
Men's Shelter
Operates in the city of Escondido
This 10-bed shelter is the starting point for homeless men entering the Veterans programs. While basic needs are provided during the stabilization period in the shelter, a number of assessments are performed during this time through which the client's case manager helps him develop an individual service plan. This plan may include counseling, training, remedial education, life skills, and a variety of workshops to prepare him for employment and self-sufficiency.
Transitional Housing Apartments & Merle's Place
Both operate in the city of Escondido
This program, funded by the Department of Veteran's Affairs, provides the opportunity to reintegrate back into mainstream society while they live in either a 28-bed, 2 bedroom/2 bath apartments, or a 44-bed, dorm-style, both of which are transitional housing for homeless veterans. Veterans, who may also be seniors or disabled, work with case management on life skills and vocational training, to ultimately achieve stability, employment, permanent housing, and self-sufficiency throughout the 24 months they are in the program.
Merle's Place
Merle's Place is named for Merle Fischlowitz, a long-time significant supporter of Interfaith Community Services. Merle's vision transformed a vacant auto repair shop into a 44 bed Transitional Housing Program for our Veterans. This program provides a complete array of support services to include hot meals, transportation assistance, medical, psychological, educational and substance abuse services. Each Veteran works with a case manager to establish an Individual Development Plan addressing short-term and long-term goals and barriers to achievement of these goals: these efforts culminate in a livable income, permanent housing and self sufficiency.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (HVRP)
Operates in the Cities of Escondido and Oceanside
Funded through the Department of Labor, this program provides shelter, counseling, supportive services, job training, and job placement assistance to homeless veterans.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Recently Separated Veterans and Veterans Employment & Assistance Program (VEAP) Operates in the Cities of Escondido and Oceanside
WIA is a vocational training program for unemployed veterans. This program provides training, supportive services, and job placement assistance to help veterans return to the workforce. Both programs are vocational in nature, and are provided in order to help the veteran return to work. However, the Recently Separated program is designed to help veterans who have recently (within the past 12 months) left active duty.
Homeless Outreach Projects & Evaluation (HOPE)
Operates in the Cities of Escondido and Oceanside
HOPE is funded by the Social Security Administration, and although it is not specifically for veterans, is operated out of this department. HOPE provides intervention services to the homeless and disabled population of San Diego County. HOPE is designed to empower growth toward self-sufficiency and independence among the physically disabled and severely mentally ill homeless populations. Services include assessment of eligibility for Social Security benefits, application assistance, case management, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, counseling, and supportive services.
A Success Story
Mike Phillips a Vietnam Navy Veteran served 4 years in the service with an Honorable discharge. Mike came to Interfaith Community services about a year and ½ ago seeking assistance with housing and employment. Mike also suffers from a Mental Health condition & several physical disabilities however, this did not stop him from continually putting forth a strong effort to get his life back on track. Mike started off in our Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). With our assistance, Mike secured employment in downtown San Diego and for about 1 year he took buses to and from work every day for over 4 hours/day.
Mike resided in our Veteran Apartments and has never failed to pay his rent and provide for himself on a daily basis. Recently however, things took a turn for the worse and he became very ill and had to quit his job. Mike ended up at Palomar Hospitals emergency critical care unit in a “coma like stupor” due to medication toxicity, even though he had been taking his medication faithfully as prescribed. Mike survived this near death experience with some residual effects.
Once again however, Mike was determined to move forward and was not going to let this slow him down. The Veterans staff now being hyper vigilant with him started noticing some of the same symptoms that Mike had before ending up in Palomar and pleaded with him to get himself checked out at the VA Hospital. Knowing that he was still not feeling as well as he would like, he did take our advice and found himself once again slipping backwards battling medication toxicity. This time though he caught it before it got him.
Mike is now enrolled in Project HOPE a program for chronically homeless/disabled to provide assistance with Social Security claims and intensive Case Management services. We are happy to say Mike was recently approved to receive SSDI benefits so we have been successful in assisting him to securing affordable housing. Mike is now living in a beautiful retirement community right here in Escondido, they have emergency buzzer’s in their bathrooms and rooms should anything happen to him. They also provide group breakfast each morning and activities every week. Mike is very happy with his new living conditions.
We will always be here to assist Mike to once again be healthy and stable enough to possibly secure employment doing something he may really enjoy. Mike has taken incredible strides through out the duration of his program and we can proudly say this is a wonderful example of “Helping Others Help Themselves.”
Veterans Services Contact
For information about services please call the
number below and ask for a Vet Rep.
