Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa
Turning the Key
At its core, San Diego’s homelessness crisis is a housing crisis.
Due to San Diego’s record-breaking rent and housing prices and one of the nation’s lowest vacancy rates, affordable housing is the largest barrier to solving homelessness. With an increasing number of individuals and families spending more than half of their income on housing, many are only a few paychecks away from homelessness.
To help combat San Diego’s housing crisis, Father Joe’s Villages has pledged to add 2,000 units of affordable housing to San Diego through their Turning the Key Initiative. As part of this initiative, in January of 2020, Father Joe’s Villages and partner Chelsea Investment Corporation began construction on an innovative new affordable housing community, Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa, which will provide 407 housing units for vulnerable families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who are at risk of or overcoming homelessness. Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa will not only prevent and end the homelessness of more than 500 individuals, it will provide a supportive community where they can thrive.
Joseph and his 7-year-old daughter, Abigail, are two of those individuals. After falling on hard times, Joseph and Abigail are finally moving out of the hotel they have lived in for three months and into a two-bedroom apartment in Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa. “I can’t express how blessed and grateful we are,” Joseph shared with GB Magazine.
Situated adjacent to Father Joe’s Villages East Village campus, residents will have access to comprehensive, life-changing services that will help them maintain housing for good, including employment assistance, integrated behavioral and physical health care, benefits assistance, life skills training, and so much more. “Having a safe home and being so close to the services we may need has relieved so much stress,” Joseph shared. “Being able to give my daughter a safe and secure place to lay her head every night is a great feeling.”
Since the groundbreaking of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, crews have been hard at work bringing this affordable housing complex to fruition. Now, the organization is thrilled to announce that Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa is complete.
Neighbors will begin moving into their new homes in mid-January and the organization will officially cut the ribbon at a ceremony on February 10th. Watch the ceremony and a virtual tour of this new affordable community from the comfort of your own home at my.neighbor.org/live.
The community’s funding was made possible by Terrence & Barbara Caster and family, Raymond James Financial, Citibank, the County of San Diego, the San Diego Housing Commission, the State of California, US Bank and Union Bank.
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. By moving hundreds of neighbors off the streets and into homes of their own, Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa will benefit all of San Diego and bring hope to people at risk of or overcoming homelessness. Together, Father Joe’s Villages’ programs and housing create a place where hope can live.
Learn more about how you can support Father Joe’s Villages’ efforts to help people achieve a brighter future and end their homelessness at my.neighbor.org.
