In 1950, Father Joe's Villages began as St. Mary's of the Wayside Chapel in downtown San Diego, founded with a simple yet powerful mission: to serve those experiencing homelessness with dignity and compassion. What started as a small chapel has grown into Southern California's largest homeless services provider, operating for over 75 years with the guiding philosophy of 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors.' The organization recognized early on that ending homelessness requires more than temporary shelter - it demands a comprehensive approach addressing the root causes of homelessness.
Today, Father Joe's Villages provides a continuum of care that meets basic needs while investing in long-term solutions. Every night, they house more than 2,500 neighbors through emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent affordable housing programs. Their evidence-based services include the Village Health Center, therapeutic childcare, employment and job training, substance use treatment, and behavioral health services. In the past decade alone, they've helped more than 12,000 people achieve permanent housing. The organization continues to expand its impact through initiatives like the Turning the Key affordable housing development, creating new pathways to stability for San Diego's most vulnerable residents.