Father Joe's Villages’ new program to support

Pregnant woman holding her tummy. (photo by freestocks.org. on pexels.com)

Father Joe's Villages continues its mission to care for the homeless and launched a new program for young mothers who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Deacon Jim Vargas explained the program at KUSI’s Good Morning San Diego.

New Program, Young Mothers

Deacon Jim Vargas, President and CEO of Father Joe’s Villages, shared that the program was launched in May last year and is a relatively new program. So far, it has helped fourteen young mothers.

It is targeting to help 18 – 24 years old mothers, who typically are first-time mothers. According to Deacon Vargas, they are primarily on the streets and are pregnant. It is difficult enough to be on the roads, and it’s even more challenging to be pregnant.

Deacon Vargas emphasized that it’s a time when mothers must be well-nourished for the infant to be nourished. The program aims to get them off the streets.

With this new program, Father Joe’s Villages targets to give these mothers all the benefits from the comprehensive services that the organization has to offer. New or expecting mothers between 18 – 24 and their children can avail of the services provided through the organization’s Saint Margaret of Cortona Harbor program.

These young mothers can access healthcare, licensed therapeutic childcare, case management, nutritional education, housing navigation, employment services, and a private room at the Joan Kroc Center.

Deacon Vargas also shared those services for these young mothers, including prenatal care and classes. All of these will be provided through the generosity of Adriana G. and Cristiano R. Amon. As stated by Deacon Vargas, these generous individuals approached him early part of last year, and the partnership started.

Homelessness Youth in San Diego

According to San Diego Youth Services, over 1500 youth are among the homeless population in San Diego County. Moreover, they make up 12 percent of the county’s unsheltered homeless individuals.

This data is higher than veterans at 10 percent and families at 3 percent. The San Diego Youth Services also reported that more than a quarter of homeless individuals surveyed in the county stated that they first became homeless before they reached 25.

Additionally, the youth services stated that this homeless youth data is likely a vast undercount. It also cited the very high cost of housing as one of the most significant factors contributing to homelessness among the youth ages 18 – 24 in San Diego.

Homelessness is brought about by traumatic childhood experiences before not having a home. Youth who may have been involved in juvenile justice systems and lived in foster care are more likely to become homeless.

Other factors include economic instability and family conflict/rejection.

Father Joe’s Villages

“Preventing and ending homelessness, one life at a time.”

As per its website, the organization ends homelessness through Meeting Basic Needs, Investing in Children, Making Health a Priority, and Strengthening Self – Sufficiency.

Father Joe Carroll established the organization in 1950. Its purpose is to serve San Diegans experiencing homelessness and poverty. It has grown to include a comprehensive campus and scattered-site programs that shelter over 2,000 individuals nightly through the years.

Father Joe’s Villages started with a small chapel downtown.