The Reality
More than 22,000 children were identified as experiencing homelessness in San Diego County last school year, accounting for 4.5% of total students.
In the Escondido Union School District, that number is even higher, with about 7% of students identified as experiencing homelessness. Families are living out of their cars, staying in motels, and sleeping on their friends' couches, with no consistent meals, sleep, or structure necessary to thrive at school or work.
Our Goal
Interfaith’s One Campaign challenges everyone in our community to join us in helping families achieve stable housing, give children the opportunity to thrive in school, and support parents in finding employment and returning to self-sufficiency.
Since the launch of the Day One Campaign, Interfaith has helped families move from crisis to stability — bringing many indoors, preventing homelessness, and guiding them toward lasting housing solutions.
From emergency shelter to permanent homes, the campaign continues to change lives every day. Scroll down to see how one family’s journey was transformed.
FEATURED FAMILY
Elvis Chavez and his two daughters came to the family shelter after losing their home. Elvis had left his previous employment to start his own business with a friend. After launching the company, Elvis’s wife and the mother of his children unexpectedly passed away from cardiac arrest. While navigating his grief, Elvis had to learn how to be a single parent and keep his company afloat.
Unfortunately, he had to file for bankruptcy,
resulting in them losing their apartment.
In hopes of finding resources, Elvis called 2-1-1. They referred him to Interfaith’s family shelter, and two days later he was accepted into the facility. While here, he worked diligently with his case manager to find affordable housing for him and his daughters. After being at the family shelter for three months, Elvis’s case manager referred him to another shelter that was down the street from their previous housing. This allowed his daughters to remain in their school district, providing them with a sense of normalcy. While there, Elvis remained in case management with Interfaith, keeping his support
team updated with his progress and needs.
In May 2025, Elvis came to his case manager, stating he had found an apartment but needed assistance with the first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and the deposit. With the Day One Campaign, Interfaith was able to provide Elvis with the funds needed to secure the apartment. Now, he and his two daughters have permanent housing around the corner from the children’s school and
his work, allowing them to restart their lives as a family.
