SAN DIEGO—Sept. 18, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) Spirit of the Barrio luncheon will feature a panel of regional leaders addressing homelessness and affordable housing in San Diego County. The discussion will also highlight what steps FHCSD is taking to combat homelessness, including improving access to homeless populations, outreaching to the homeless community and collaborating with affordable housing partners.
The four panelists include Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, who will discuss her past, present and future initiatives on affordable housing; Alpha Project CEO Bob McElroy; San Diego Housing Commission CEO Rick Gentry; and Father Joe’s Villages CEO Deacon Jim Vargas, who will also present their views on what is and is not working to combat homelessness and create affordable housing. The panel will be moderated by 10News anchor Kimberly Hunt, feature a Q&A session and be “live-tweeted” using the hashtag #SOTBHomeless.
San Diego was recently named one of the nation’s least affordable cities. On an average night, there are an estimated 8,500 individuals without a place to call home. This Spirit of the Barrio panel discussion hopes to shed light on and provide solutions to this pervasive issue.
Since 1986, Spirit of the Barrio has provided a platform to discuss current events, such as the California drought and new stadium proposal, while raising financial support for FHCSD’s mission to provide quality health care for underserved communities. Past Spirit of the Barrio speakers include Mayor Jerry Sanders, world-famous artists and local athletes. About 400 to 600 guests attend each luncheon.
Spirit of the Barrio will take place Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Logan Heights Family Health Center (1809 National Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113).
