CARLSBAD, CA — The city of Carlsbad, Lucky Duck Foundation and Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego Tuesday opened 15 shelter beds at La Posada de Guadalupe Men's Shelter and began a matching fundraiser to open an additional 30.
The shelter is open 24/7 in Carlsbad and is operated by Catholic Charities. The challenge is to raise $360,000 -- matching $180,000 gifts each from homelessness-focused nonprofit Lucky Duck Foundation and the city -- to fund staffing, meals, case management and supportive services for 30 beds in addition to the 15 opened Tuesday.
"These urgently needed beds come at a time when nine out of 10 requests for shelter go unfulfilled," said Drew Moser, CEO of Lucky Duck Foundation. "La Posada is both a safe haven and a launching pad for stability and independence. We're proud to partner with the city of Carlsbad and Catholic Charities to activate critically needed shelter capacity and help more people find a path to a brighter future."
The "The Beds Are Here. Help Us Open Them" matching challenge is intended to expand shelter capacity at La Posada de Guadalupe Men's Shelter from 50 to as many as 95 men at one time.
"Expanding access to shelter is a critical part of addressing homelessness," Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn said. "Through our longstanding partnership with the La Posada de Guadalupe Shelter, we can help more people get off the streets and connect with services they need to work toward stable housing."
The number of unsheltered homeless across San Diego County declined by 11% this year, but sheltered homelessness increased by 12%, according to the results of the Point-in-Time Count, conducted every January by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness as a one-day snapshot of the region's homeless population.
"La Posada has served men experiencing homelessness in North County, providing a safe place to stay, meals and supportive services that help residents work toward greater stability and independence," said Appaswamy "Vino" Pajanor, CEO of Catholic Charities of San Diego, the social ministry arm for the Diocese of San Diego. "This is what's possible when philanthropy, local government and neighbors work together. The Lucky Duck Foundation and the city of Carlsbad have led the way, and now our community can help turn empty beds into lifesaving shelter."
Those who wish to donate can visit ccdsd.org/laposadamenshelter/.
— City News Service
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