This upcoming year I will be serving as a Family Stabilization Associate at SBCS, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive social services for children, youth, and families in San Diego, California. As a Family Stabilization Associate, I will act as a case manager for those seeking housing assistance by assessing need and administering aid accordingly. My goal will be to help families achieve self-sufficiency by determining ways the organization can help, be it through rental assistance, motel vouchers, or placement in a fair housing program.

I am ecstatic to join SBCS in August, as the position aligns with my passion for ensuring all people have access to sustainable housing. I chose SBCS because of the organization’s commitment to create a stable, safe environment for children to grow, which is essential for a thriving next generation. The organization promotes a holistic approach by offering services from transitional housing to youth tutoring. This experience will allow me to understand how I can play a role in breaking the cycle of poverty even after my volunteer term.

As a part of my service, I am responsible for raising $700 to contribute to both my volunteer expenses and those of future volunteers. San Diego is the fourteenth most expensive city in the nation, which means about 12% of families live below the poverty level. This translates into a high number of families requiring assistance, but simultaneously makes it difficult for volunteers to reside in the areas they serve. This experience is only possible because housing, food, and transportation will all be covered by JVC through donations from former JVs and their support networks. Because of this, agencies that employ a volunteer save an average of $22,000 a year, which can be used to better serve their communities. I am so blessed that JVC alumni have made this possible for me and would love to do the same for future JVs and the areas they will serve. If you'd like to learn more about SBCS or JVC I've included links to their websites below. Any donation, large or small, would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for supporting me on this journey!

SBCS: https://sbcssandiego.org

Jesuit Volunteer Corps: https://www.jesuitvolunteers.org