San Diego CA—With the fourth largest population of people who are homeless in the nation, San Diego residents are lacing up their sneakers to support efforts to end the region’s homelessness crisis. On August 5, hundreds are expected to join Father Joe’s Villages for A Short Walk Home – San Diego’s first-ever walk to end homelessness.
“Each day, I’m blessed to meet people who share our vision for a brighter San Diego,” says Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of Father Joe’s Villages. “This walk is not reserved for athletes – it is an opportunity for everyone in San Diego to walk in solidarity toward our common goal of ending homelessness, one life at a time.”
As one of San Diego’s largest homeless services providers, Father Joe’s Villages prepares up to 3,000 meals and houses nearly 1,900 individuals each night. Proceeds from A Short Walk Home will benefit Father Joe’s Villages efforts to provide interim, transitional, permanent supportive and affordable housing programs and other supportive services dedicated to helping people find their way home.
The kid and dog friendly walk will follow a 2.1-mile route along the promenade at Embarcadero Marina Park South. To reinforce Father Joe’s Villages’ focus on creating affordable housing to serve people who have fallen into homelessness, participants will walk through an oversized front door at the finish line to symbolize our neighbors coming home.
Walkers can register for A Short Walk Home as individuals or as part of a team. All participants are encouraged to set fundraising goals and crowd fund through their personal networks of people who want to end homelessness in San Diego.
A Short Walk Home begins at 8 a.m. on August 5 at 200 Marina Park Way. Registration opens today and costs range from $15 to $30, with special discounts for youth and military. For more information and to register, click here.
If you are unable to attend the walk, you can still help empower people who are homeless in San Diego by donating to Father Joe’s Villages. For more information about Father Joe’s Villages’ programs, please visit neighbor.org.