Interfaith Community Services launches 'The ROCk' website to advance Santa Fe's homelessness response. SANTA FE - Interfaith Community Services (ICS) announced the launch of a new website for the ROCk (Resource and Opportunity Center), a proposed facility designed to strengthen Santa Fe's response to homelessness by bringing emergency shelter, daytime services and critical supportive resources together in one coordinated location. 'The website, therocksantafe.org, provides information about the ROCk, the need for the project, proposed services and design, community partners and opportunities to get involved. "Santa Fe residents deserve clear, accessible information about the ROCk - what it is, why it is needed and what it means for our community," said Kent Grubbs, Board Chair of Interfaith Community Services. "This website gives community members a place to learn about the project, ask questions and be part of the conversation about how we can better support people experiencing homelessness." The City of Santa Fe estimates approximately 578 people are experiencing homelessness, while only 280 shelter beds currently exist - and none are available on a low-barrier, walk-up, on-demand basis. The ROCk is designed to help address this gap by providing emergency shelter and a daytime sanctuary where people can connect with healthcare, substance use disorder treatment, housing navigation, legal assistance and other services that support long-term stability. Building a Better Response for Santa Fe For more than 15 years, ICS has worked with volunteers, service providers and community partners to serve people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The ROCk builds on that experience with a model centered on dignity, accountability, collaboration and measurable outcomes. "Homelessness affects all of Santa Fe, and the conversation about how we respond should include all of Santa Fe," Grubbs added. "We invite residents to learn about the ROCk and help us build a solution that makes our community safer, healthier and stronger." ICS currently operates Showers to Go, providing mobile hygiene and navigation services; the Senior Motel Shelter Program, offering housing-focused case management for older adults; and a Community Clothing Closet, providing free clothing and essential items to individuals and families in need.

Interfaith, Feeding San Diego, Food Bank hold distribution events. Interfaith Community Services members run a food distribution event Thursday, Oct. 30, in Escondido. (Interfaith Community Services social media photo) Interfaith Community Services is expanding food assistance in Escondido as the ongoing federal government shutdown continues to delay CalFresh benefits for thousands of local families. On Thursday, Oct. 30, Interfaith partnered with Feeding San Diego to distribute food to 265 households, serving nearly 1,000 people, according to an Interfaith Community Services social media update. The organization said demand was so high that supplies ran out quickly, prompting plans for another food distribution event. The increased need comes as roughly 400,000 San Diegans - about 240,000 households - are temporarily without CalFresh benefits due to the shutdown. In response, Feeding San Diego and the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank have mobilized emergency operations across the region to prevent widespread hunger. Feeding San Diego has expanded food distributions for federal employees, military members and families affected by the pause in benefits. The nonprofit operates hundreds of partner sites, including faith-based organizations and schools, and is also hosting large-scale events for workers at Camp Pendleton and Transportation Safety Administration employees at local airports. "From the onset of the shutdown, Feeding San Diego and its partners have remained steadfast in ensuring a critical safety net for federal employees affected by this crisis," Bob Kamensky, CEO of Feeding San Diego, said in an organization news release. "We are coordinating with government organizations to distribute food on military bases, extending Marketplace hours for federal workers, and providing additional food to our partners. Each day of delay intensifies the hardship families face." Meanwhile, the San Diego Food Bank served more than 2,100 households at a drive-through distribution Nov. 2 at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley, providing 63,000 pounds of food - enough for more than 53,000 meals. "This is exactly why the San Diego Food Bank exists. As the county's official food safety net, we are designed to respond swiftly and effectively when our community needs us," San Diego Food Bank CEO Casey Castillo said in a news release. "We've been preparing for potential disruptions and were ready to act when the government shutdown began. Our team swiftly expanded operations, mobilized staff and volunteers, and activated our network of partners to meet the need. Today's effort reflects the scale of our response and the critical importance of sustaining it." Interfaith Community Services said its next food distribution details will be announced soon. Families in need of help can find upcoming food events or volunteer opportunities through the websites of Interfaith Community Services, Feeding San Diego or the San Diego Food Bank. The San Diego Food Bank also has a North County location at 2260 Oak Ridge Way in Vista. The North Coast Current and OsideNews are publishing news items related to the federal government shutdown throughout its duration. Organizations can send information to news[at]northcoastcurrent.com. This announcement was written using artificial intelligence, then edited and fact-checked against source material.