Interfaith Shelter Network of San Diego

El nido ("the nest") is a transitional living program for homeless victims of domestic violence and their children. Located in central San Diego, in a confidential site for safety reasons, the program offers stability in housing while allowing the residents to offer emotional support to each other and less isolation during this stressful time in their lives. It also is respectful of residents' autonomy and provides as close to a real-life scenario as possible. Residents live in an 11-unit apartment complex for up to a year or more and, with the assistance of social workers, obtain the counseling, child care, employment, educational, and transportation services they need to become self-sufficient. Each of the units was fully furnished by a local congregation.

THE ROTATIONAL SHELTER PROGRAM PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER TO SINGLES, COUPLES, AND FAMILIES COUNTYWIDE. THE SAFE AND NURTURING COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT FOSTERS SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND IMPROVES SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF PAID STAFF, SUB-CONTRACTORS AND VOLUNTEERS. San Diego County congregations and volunteers have collectively sheltered more than 11,000 people for 310,000 nights over the past 38 years.