While it is never easy to be homeless, the San Diego weather at least makes it a little more bearable. But when the COVID-19 pandemic led many organizations to shut down vital services, being homeless even in San Diego became more difficult.
In March 2020, the city of San Diego consolidated services, moving individuals already in shelters to the San Diego Convention Center. The goal was to allow for proper physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as providing vital services to the people staying there.
Michael Cruz, supervisor of Case Management for Father Joe’s Villages, was working at their shelter when the decision was made to consolidate. Families were moved to hotel rooms while single men and women were moved to the Convention Center. “It was really good when we were at the Convention Center because we had a lot of services,” including mental health professionals and security.
But one year later, the city decided this was too expensive and closed the Convention Center. The goal was to move everyone who had been living there to existing shelters, so that none would have to return to living on the street. But in practice, it was not that simple.
Finding Shelter
Homeless people don’t usually have their birth certificates, social security cards or other forms of identification. Not having ID can mean not being able to get food stamps, get into a shelter, open a bank account, get disability benefits or even get a job. It’s hard for a homeless person to get these documents any time; during COVID it became even more of a challenge.
“One of the difficult things was when the Social Security office closed because clients need social security cards, ID,” said Cruz. “We were still able to provide vouchers to the DMV.”
To get a copy of a birth certificate, a person can go online, pay a fee and request a copy be sent to them. But the homeless don’t have regular internet access, money or mailing addresses. When the libraries closed, access to the internet was cut off for many.
The Third Avenue Charitable Organization, known more commonly by its acronym TACO, continued to assist people trying to get ID. Executive Director Susan Fleming explained that TACO pays the fees to acquire the documentation: “It’s a huge dent in our budget.”
Positive Side of the Pandemic
But while the pandemic provided unique challenges for the homeless, it also provided opportunities for organization that help them. “We were unbelievably blessed with a huge amount of donations in 2020,” said John Savidge, director of Ladle Fellowship, located at First Presbyterian Church.
Fleming reported that many people were donating the stimulus money that they had received. “People were saying ‘I don’t need this, so I wanted to give it to an organization that does.’” She anticipated their annual No-Show Gala, a fundraising “pretend” event, would raise $30,000. Instead, they received $50,000.
Fleming said that TACO was the only place in the area still giving out mail to their homeless clients and allowing them to charge their phones. “Word on the street travels fast. The number of people we see increased dramatically.”
Both Ladle and TACO began providing to-go meals outdoors when the pandemic began. They also limited the number of volunteers that assisted. But otherwise, it was business as usual. “Nothing was disrupted with the exception of the building being closed,” explained Savidge.
“For TACO, even though this horrible pandemic was going on, it allowed for us to grow,” said Fleming. “We’ve found ways to make it beneficial for clients, which has helped TACO too.” They went from serving meals twice per week to serving meals four days a week, as well as handing out Starbucks sandwiches provided through their partnership with Feeding San Diego on a fifth day. Their low-key clothing giveaway became larger as word spread.
Savidge explained that while Ladle didn’t really grow during the pandemic, they focused on their core services which he calls “the four M’s”: message, music, mentoring and medical. They have not yet re-started Bible study, but the San Diego Street Choir has begun rehearsing again, and staff and volunteers are continuing to assist their guests with both mental and physical health needs.
Cruz summed up how nonprofits are handling the pandemic best: “We’re being adaptable, flexible, rolling with the punches.” And they will continue to do so to the best of their ability, even in challenging times.
