Female, age: 61  Years homeless: 6 Permanently housed: June 2023

Doris grew up in Carlsbad and graduated from Carlsbad High School. She raised her family here and her kids are now adults. About six years ago she ended up in a domestic violence situation and had to flee her housing. She had been staying outside since then. In a collaborative effort between the City of Carlsbad Housing Navigator, Community Resource Center’s Rapid Re-Housing Program and the Interfaith Community Services Social Workers, she was able to find an apartment and end her time living outside. She’s enrolled with the Employment & Benefits Specialist at Community Resource Center and is working on securing long-term disability benefits for her disabling condition. She’s working on her physical health and giving back to her community as she is able. 

What worked

• The City of Carlsbad Housing Navigator worked with Doris to help her locate a unit and transition inside.
• The Community Resource Center helped Doris with the security deposit and move-in support.
• The Interfaith Community Services Social Workers engaged Doris and helped her access furniture for her new unit.
• The Community Resource Center continues to support her with its Employment & Benefits Program to secure her permanent benefits.

Female, age: 43  Permanently housed: March 2023

Beth was seeking employment and came to the Community Resource Center Employment & Benefits Program as a referral from Interfaith Community Services.  At the time Beth was sleeping outside and working part-time at a local fast-food restaurant. She was struggling to find a home she could afford with limited part-time hours and had nowhere to stay. Beth came to the Employment & Benefits Program looking for something with higher pay and more hours to be able to afford a place to live. The Employment & Benefits Specialist helped Beth update her resume, connected her to numerous job leads and prepared her for an interview with a full-time position.  After securing a new job, the program provided Beth with motel vouchers so she could be in a better position while starting her new job.  After a few weeks in a motel, Beth had saved up enough to move into a room for rent. Since moving into the room for rent Beth has now been promoted on two different occasions and is a shift leader.   

What worked 

• The Interfaith Community Services Social Workers engaged Beth and helped her connect with the Community Resource Center Employment & Benefits Program.
• Beth worked diligently with the Employment & Benefits Specialist to obtain a better job with more hours and higher pay.
• The Community Resource Center provided Beth with motel vouchers to provide a place to stay while she began a new job and saved money for housing.
• The Community Resource Center helped Beth find a place to live within her budget.

Family of 3 siblings  Reunified with family: November 2022

A family of five, two parents and three adult children, lived out of their vehicle in the Village area. The parents each had a disabling medical condition and the three adult children suffered from mild cognitive disabilities. The family lived off a very minimal fixed income. The family was contacted regularly by the Police Departments Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and the Interfaith Social Workers. They used services like meals with Feeding All God’s Children, showers at Showers of Blessings, and an occasional gas card, but remained hesitant to referrals for housing options. The mother passed away and the father ended up hospitalized long-term which left the siblings to fend for themselves. 

HOT continued to contact the children on a regular basis, exploring options for their situation and working to encourage them to accept services that could improve their quality of life. One of the siblings found a job to help sustain the family but was seriously injured after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle to work. The family eventually lost the vehicle they were living in due to mechanical issues. 

In November of 2022, the lack of shelter from their vehicle led the siblings to inform HOT about an aunt on the East Coast who they believed might be willing to help them. HOT worked with the Interfaith social worker to explore this option. After confirming the aunt was willing to help, the siblings were temporarily housed in a motel to facilitate family reunification. Travel arrangements were made with the assistance of a local nonprofit social service agency, and all three siblings returned to the East Coast to live with family. Interfaith confirmed their safe arrival. 

What worked 

• Local resources were able to meet basic needs for the family.
• The Homeless Outreach Team continued to interact with the family and offer support.
• When the family decided to pursue a reunification plan, the Interfaith Community Services social worker was able to connect them with resources and help the family reunite with a relative.

Male, age: 67  Years homeless: 5  Permanently housed: December 2021

Theo had been living outside in Carlsbad for almost 5 years when he encountered the Homeless Outreach Team and the Housing Navigator. He found himself without a home after he lost his employment, his marriage ended and he had nowhere to go but outside. With a small amount of Social Security income, he had only enough resources for food. He didn’t know how to take the next step to find a home indoors. Theo decided to take a chance on building trust with the service providers that came by and began applying to find a new place to live. With the help of a Housing Choice Voucher and conversations with numerous landlords, Theo found a place to be his home just before the end of the year. He feels like he can finally breathe again and is glad to have a safe home. 

What worked 

• Homeless Outreach Team worked with Theo, helped provide hygiene items and connected him to the Housing Navigator.
• City homeless services staff helped him apply for and monitor his position on the city’s Section 8 rental assistance program waiting list.
• The Carlsbad Housing Authority had funding to issue a limited number of vouchers to those experiencing homelessness in Carlsbad.
• When the housing voucher became available, the city’s Housing Navigator helped Theo obtain critical documents, find apartments and fill out rental applications.
• Through the city’s contract with the Community Resource Center, Theo got help with his security deposit, rental insurance and furniture.
• Theo is now housed and is adjusting to life inside.

Male, age: 60 Years homeless: 3 Permanently housed: February 2022

Joseph had a life-changing medical incident that left him unable to walk and without most of the mobility in his legs and arms. His career was in construction, and he found himself no longer able to work in his field.

He was fortunate to receive an emergency housing voucher from a neighboring housing authority but continued to face barriers in locating an apartment. He was staying in Carlsbad at the time and got connected with the Homeless Outreach Team social workers and the Housing Navigator.

Together with the help of Community Resource Center, they transferred his voucher to Carlsbad and helped him locate a unit in town. He is now safely home and has in-home care to assist with his daily needs. He is doing physical therapy and hopes to one day regain the ability to walk.

What worked

• The Homeless Outreach Team worked with Joseph, helped provide hygiene items and collaborated with the Housing Navigator to problem solve helping him locate housing.
• The Housing Navigator helped him move his Emergency Housing Voucher to the Carlsbad Housing Authority from a neighboring jurisdiction. She helped Joseph reduce barriers to being accepted at an apartment and found him apartments to apply for.
• Through the city’s Rapid Re-housing contract with the Community Resource Center, Joseph got help with his security deposit and case management to move inside and stabilize.
• Joseph is now housed and is adjusting to his new life.

Male, age: 49  Years homeless: 3   Placed in motel program: May 2022

In April of 2021, John had been living homeless and jobless for over a year in the Village area. Dependence on drugs impacted his decision-making process. The Homeless Outreach Team approached John on several occasions until he was open to accepting help.  

HOT and Interfaith social workers helped John overcome several obstacles. John went to rehab. His lifestyle had led to the development of health issues that needed to be addressed. He also sought treatment to address the psychological impacts. Interfaith linked John to many of the services that helped him get back on his feet. Members of HOT and Interfaith social workers kept in regular contact with him, which held him accountable and helped to reduce his risk of relapse and a return to homelessness.  

John’s journey has been difficult, but he persevered. He recently reported that he completed the probationary period of his new full-time job and has begun to receive full benefits. He was proud to report that his dependability and work ethic have allowed him to quickly gain increasing levels of responsibility and that it feels good to be relied upon. He is most proud that he is now providing for himself. He knows that he has more work to do, but he is proud of how far he has come.  He thanks the Homeless Outreach Team and is grateful for all the services he received that helped him along the way.     

What worked  

• After consistent engagement John was willing to accept services and worked hard to stabilize his life.
• Case Management: The Interfaith social workers helped John get placement in various programs to address his needs and increase his potential for success.
• HOT members remained in contact with John and encouraged him.

Male, age: 60  Years homeless: 32 years, 10 months  Permanently housed: April 2022

William lived outside and in his car for decades after a tragic incident left him partially blind and with only disability income to live on. He was connected to the Homeless Outreach Team, Community Resource Center, City of Carlsbad Housing Navigation and People Assisting the Homeless  when he received an Emergency Housing Voucher through the County of San Diego. After months of trying to locate a unit in Oceanside to be close to his school, he found a place in Carlsbad where he moved to in April. He’s building a community there and continuing his studies at a local college. William is adjusting to his new life and grateful to be inside.  

What worked  

• Homeless Outreach Team worked with William, checking in with him and connecting him to local resources. They provided a motel voucher immediately prior to his move-in to help him stabilize and gather his paperwork to make the transition to housing.
• The Housing Navigator helped him move his Emergency Housing Voucher back to the County of San Diego and then to Carlsbad Housing Agency to subsidize his rent. Together they looked for units and finally found one locally in a senior complex.
• Through the city’s Rapid Re-housing contract with the Community Resource Center, William got help with his first month’s rent, security deposit and stabilization support along with some household items to help him settle in his new home. 

Female, age: 63  Years homeless: 5   Placed in long-term care: August 2021

Judy is well known to Carlsbad residents who frequent the Village, as well as business owners in the area. With severe, undiagnosed mental illness, Judy was chronically homeless. 

One way she coped with her mental health while living on the streets was to self-medicate with illegal substances, soon developing a substance use disorder. She was known to scream at passersby, harass people eating at restaurants, steal from businesses and defecate in public. The Homeless Outreach Team frequently received complaints about Judy’s behavior. In 2021 officers responded to 109 calls for service from residents and Village businesses related to Judy.

Recognizing signs of mental illness, Homeless Outreach Team officers transported Judy 11 times to psychiatric care facilities so she could be assessed and transitioned into the high level of care she likely required. Each time, however, she was quickly released, often the same day she arrived. Many long-term inpatient programs have significant backlogs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working with the city’s Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, the Homeless Outreach Team was able to refer Judy to a mental health program specializing in serious mental illness. However, her needs exceeded the services provided, and she once again returned to the streets and her erratic behavior.  The situation with Judy’s behavior eventually caused several businesses to reach out to the city, calling for a restraining order. 

City staff continued to brainstorm potential options, reaching out to a social worker who had previously been part of the city’s Homeless Outreach Team. This clinician now works for an inpatient mental health facility for older adults. Because the HOT officers had established a long history with Judy, they were able to provide the necessary background information to qualify Judy for long-term placement into the facility. Judy has been admitted and is finally getting the care she needs to treat her illness and is awaiting conservatorship. Her story demonstrates the institutional barriers and challenges facing those who need mental health treatment. 

What worked  

• With a dedicated team sensitive to Judy’s situation and the effect it was having on our community, persistence eventually paid off.
• Because the Homeless Outreach Team officers and social workers had developed a long history with Judy, they were able to be effective advocates, eventually getting her the help she so desperately needed.
• Relationships with health care facilities and other providers played an important role in Judy with the services she needed.

Male, age: 50  Years homeless: 13  Permanently housed: September 2021

Bryce grew up in Carlsbad, graduating from Carlsbad High School. When he injured himself on the job and became unable to work, he collected unemployment, but eventually his benefits expired, and he lost his home. He was able to stay with friends and family for a while, then stayed in motels. His money eventually ran out. While living on the street, he sustained physical injuries that further limited his ability to work. Bryce also developed a substance use disorder that caused him to be in and out of jail. 

What worked  

• Officers on the Homeless Outreach Team worked with Bryce, off and on, for four years.
• Because he trusted our team, Bryce was eventually willing to accept help signing up for disability benefits, providing a small but steady income.
• City staff monitored Bryce’s position on the city’s Section 8 rental assistance program waiting list.
• When a rental voucher became available, the city’s Housing Navigator helped Bryce obtain critical documents, find apartments and fill out rental applications.
• Through the city’s contract with the Community Resource Center, Bryce got help with his security deposit, first and last month’s rent, and furniture.
• He is now living in his first apartment in thirteen years.
• Bryce continues to meet regularly with his Community Resource Center case manager for long-term housing stabilization and support as he adapts to his new life.