It is little secret the challenges surrounding homelessness in San Diego have been persistent \u2014 a reality underscored by data suggesting the number of impacted persons is rising in the city and elsewhere across the county.<\/p>\n
But Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of Father Joe\u2019s Villages, said an important part of the conversation is sometimes lost in the conversation surrounding the epidemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe face of homelessness has changed over the years,\u201d Vargas said.<\/p>\n Decades ago, homelessness oftentimes was associated with a single man, perhaps down on his luck.<\/p>\n Today, however, an increasing number of women and entire families \u2014 children included \u2014 are finding themselves in transient, uncertain situations. It happens all too often for families a few paychecks away from being unable to make ends meet.<\/p>\n For this reason, Father Joe\u2019s Villages, which has roots in San Diego stretching back to the 1950s, is continuing to put a spotlight on the dire needs of homeless children for the organization\u2019s 34th annual Children\u2019s Charity Gala, scheduled for May 5 and dubbed, \u201cUp, Up and Away.\u201d<\/p>\n According to organizers, proceeds from this year\u2019s event will benefit Father Joe\u2019s Villages\u2019 services for children and families, namely a therapeutic child care center designed to give students a platform to excel in school.<\/p>\n From Vargas\u2019 vantage point, the need for an amenity such as a therapeutic child care center is vitally important to San Diego. The goal of this year\u2019s gala is to raise at least $500,000.<\/p>\n Vargas points to statistics asserting homeless children are four times more likely to have developmental delays in their formative years and twice as likely to repeat a grade in school. More than half of homeless youth historically have not graduated high school.<\/p>\n As with most galas, Father Joe\u2019s Villages\u2019 upcoming event has a somber undertone, looking at the seriousness of the homeless epidemic. But intertwined within the program will be plenty of inspiration.<\/p>\n This year, Father Joe\u2019s Villages is honoring four persons or organizations for their roles in tackling homelessness.<\/p>\n Honorees include Franklin Antonio, co-founder of Qualcomm, for making Father Joe\u2019s Villages\u2019 public lunch program possible. In 2014, Antonio donated $2 million to the program, which serves up to 900 persons daily.<\/p>\n The Mulvaney Family \u2014 including Jim Mulvaney Sr. and Jim Mulvaney Jr. \u2014 are the recipients of this year\u2019s founder\u2019s award. Mulvaney Sr. worked alongside namesake founder Father Joe Carroll in the organization\u2019s earliest years. Mulvaney Jr. his continued his father\u2019s legacy, in part as a board member.<\/p>\n Students at two Catholic high schools \u2014 Cathedral and St. Augustine \u2014 are the recipients of this year\u2019s Bishop (Leo) Maher Award, named after the former outspoken leader of the San Diego Archdiocese in the 1970s and 1980s. Father Joe\u2019s Villages is recognizing the high school students for their volunteerism efforts, primarily with meal service.<\/p>\n Although this year\u2019s honorees come from different walks of life and are being recognized for disparate reasons, Vargas said each holds a common thread.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve helped us in helping others,\u201d Vargas said. \u201cWe do it one life at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n But alongside the celebrating is the stark realization Father Joe\u2019s Villages\u2019 mission is not over \u2014 far from it, as Vargas pointed out as he discussed statistics revealing San Diego County remains firmly entrenched in the unenviable position of having the fourth largest homeless population across the U.S.<\/p>\n \u201cThe numbers are getting worse, not better, and we\u2019re obviously going the wrong way,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a crisis. We don\u2019t have enough affordable housing.\u201d<\/p>\n The solution, Vargas said, is complex and requires both tried-and-true and unorthodox approaches.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really need to put together a plan to match the size of the problem,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t happen overnight. It takes a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Father Joe\u2019s Villages\u2019 2018 Charity Gala begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at the U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway. Festivities include a VIP reception, social hour, silent auction, dinner and program.<\/p>\n For information on the gala, visit fjvgala.com<\/a>. For details on Father Joe\u2019s Villages\u2019 various programs, visit mi.vecino.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Face](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/DOWNTOWN-NEWS-Father-Joes-Villages_preview.jpg\")