The Legacy of Father Joe Carroll lives on!

The community is home to numerous individuals who go unrecognized for their heroic acts, and Father Joe Carroll, who has passed away, is one such unsung hero. His remarkable deeds have not gone unnoticed. Father Joe’s Villages, along with his team, offers temporary shelter to those who are in dire need. They tirelessly engage in community alerts, street-team outreach, staffing, and providing nourishment and shelter to an increasing number of overnight guests. The creation of a safe shelter is an arduous task, especially when being on the streets can potentially be a matter of life or death.

Deacon Jim Vargas, an ordained deacon of the Catholic church, has taken on the responsibility of maintaining the dream in the absence of Father Joe. Growing up watching his father, a Black Puerto Rican immigrant who arrived in New Jersey with empty pockets and worked on farms, Deacon Vargas developed a strong sense of compassion and duty toward helping those in need. He saw firsthand how Black individuals and people of color are disproportionately impacted by homelessness as a result of systemic racism in critical areas such as access to housing, healthcare, employment, and education. He also talked about how the shelters operate.

Peebles: Tell me about the shelters. What is the current capacity and how do you manage high demands, especially during extreme weather conditions?
Vargas: Across all of our shelters we serve around 1,000 people per day. The most extreme weather in San Diego County occurs during November through March and we partner with the San Diego Housing Commission to operate an Inclement Weather Shelter (IWS). We accomplish that by turning our dining rooms into a shelter with enough beds to serve more than 130 people.

Peebles: How long can folks stay at the shelter, and how many of them find permanent housing?
Vargas: Our shelter program design is a low barrier and low demand, meaning we work hard to eliminate barriers to entry. For example, sobriety is not required. Case management support is offered. There is no set length of stay for those we serve.
We are working to bring change through our Turning the Key Initiative. Turning the key is our mission to bring over 2,000 affordable housing units to San Diego. Our TTK Communities bring together diverse funding sources and promote lasting success for residents with access to comprehensive services. As a result of these services, ninety-five percent of those who we help into housing retain their residence long term. It is not just about building a home; it is about building a community.

Peebles: How do you provide outreach to folks to remind them of your shelter and its services, when inclement weather is about to hit?
Vargas: Our Day Center, owned by the City but operated by Father Joe’s Villages, typically serves over 3,500 individuals per month so that provides an excellent way to get the word out. We also provide outreach through our public lunch line which serves over 2,500 meals every day. Additionally, our Street Health extends outreach.

Peebles: What are two or three services/programs that you are especially proud of?
Vargas: Our Family Empowerment Program is designed for working families, who are dedicated to staying clean and sober while staying with us, as well as saving 60% or more of their savings and working with weekly case management. This program has a dedicated community room for these ten families, access to computers for resume building and homework for their children, upgraded rooms, and later curfew requirements.
Another critical service is our street health program. We remove the barriers to access to healthcare by bringing the care directly to individuals experiencing homelessness. We also recognized the increasing need for behavioral health care and began providing street-based psychiatry services weekly, making us one of the few providers nationwide offering this service.

Peebles: What are two or three significant collaborations or partnerships that are helping FJV with its mission of serving others?
Vargas: Father Joe’s Villages can accept pets and provide people with the tools necessary to care for their pets while they are at work or participating in programming. The funding is through the State of California, and it has allowed us to create spaces that support people living in shelters. Allowing pets was a minor shift in programming that has had a massive impact on people and their well-being. In partnership with the County of San Diego, we are also proud to have implemented the first Naloxone Vending Machine for the community experiencing homelessness. This machine makes Naloxone freely available, 24/7, for those who are most at risk of an overdose. We are committed to serving anyone who needs care, and this is one more way we can provide timely support and save lives.

Peebles: Can you share a success story or two about individuals or families who have transitioned from the shelter to a permanent home?
Vargas: A single mother to two beautiful girls came to us three years ago after tragically overdosing on fentanyl while living on the streets. Subsequently, her daughters were taken away by Child Protective Services. For the last two years, she utilized the services provided by Father Joe’s Villages, including therapeutic child care, Employment and Education Services, and behavioral healthcare from our federally qualified health center. She recently graduated from our Restart program for property management and used her connections from the program to find housing. Just last month, the mother and her girls officially moved out of the Village and into their own home.
A 71-year-old veteran checked into the village in May of 2022. The client reported being in and out of homeless services for the last decade. He worked with his case manager to get enrolled in VA Services and was connected in March of 2023 with housing and began saving money. In August of 2023, the client was approved for housing and successfully exited the program into permanent housing in September with $1,600 in savings.

If you wish to obtain additional information about Father Joe’s Villages or make a donation, please visit https://my.neighbor.org/inclement-weather-shelter/Take the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life today.