Homeless shelters brace for busy season

By Renee Ramsey - For the North County Times | Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:40 PM PST ∞

VISTA ---- North County homeless shelters are bracing for a busy winter in this battered economy, with six facilities scheduled to open Monday. 

At the Operation Hope family shelter in Vista, director Russell Blackwood opened the doors for an open house Saturday at the 50-bed facility. 

"Everybody's gearing up. I think we're all going to be full this year," Blackwood said of six shelters operating under the umbrella of North San Diego County's Alliance for Regional Solutions.

"I think we're going to see completely new demographics because of the economy and foreclosures," he said. "There are a lot of people who are out there who are a paycheck or two away from being homeless."

Blackwood said the six Alliance shelters this year will operate by the same calendar this winter season, from Monday through March 31. That change will increase the time of operation for Operation Hope by 16 days.

The other five Alliance shelters are Bread of Life Mission in Oceanside, The Salvation Army in Escondido, La Posada in Carlsbad, Interfaith Shelter Network North Coastal Shelter and Interfaith Shelter Network North Inland Shelter. The Interfaith shelters change locations every two weeks.

Because Operation Hope is limited to families with children, the two-story facility includes a homework room, library and play area. There is also a laundry room and curtained rooms containing two or more beds for each family.

Six new computers with wireless access donated by the San Diego Futures Foundation were installed this year. Local churches will provide evening meals, breakfast and sack lunches. Case managers will give employment assistance and other services.

Upstairs at Operation Hope, where long tables held donated clothing in various sizes, boxes of donated gifts also were waiting to be wrapped and placed under a tree downstairs on Christmas Eve.

"It's all about the kids here," Blackwell said. "If I was a kid and didn't have a place to live, I'd want Christmas. I'd want a place to play."

North County cities, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, charitable foundations and individual donations fund the shelters. Peggy Muir, who was among several volunteers from First United Methodist Church of Vista who attended Saturday's open house, said she expects a wider variety of families at the shelter this winter.

"There are people who have had good jobs, are well-educated, and they can be homeless just like that," Muir said. "Your heart goes out."

Fellow church member Nancy Bennett of San Marcos, who has been a community volunteer for decades, said she is concerned that fewer people are able to donate time or money.

"With the economy, people are not giving the way they used to. Some of the people who used to give are on welfare now," Bennett said.

To donate funds or find shelter at Operation Hope, call (760) 724-0015. For more information about all Alliance shelters in North San Diego County, visit www.regionalsolutions.net.