Last week, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to continue operating the City’s Safe Parking Program under a contract with Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS), including the new 190-space H Barracks lot. “The Safe Parking Program has proven to be one of the City’s most successful homelessness programs, helping many participants find permanent housing and access the services and support they need to get back on their feet,” said City Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, who represents the area. “I am grateful to all the individuals and organizations who have worked together on this innovative approach to addressing homelessness. Specifically, I want to thank Jewish Family Service of San Diego for their dedication to helping us reduce homelessness.”

SAN DIEGO (Updated Feb. 18, 2025) – Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is working to meet the evolving needs of the community in response to recent and anticipated federal policy changes. With a deep commitment to its core value of “Welcome the Stranger,” JFS is focusing its immigration efforts on providing pro bono legal services and community support resources. On Jan. 20, 2025, the federal government ceased use of the CBP One application, which allowed migrants to request asylum at U.S. ports of entry. With migrants no longer able to use the CBP One application, the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) Migrant Shelter Services, operated by JFS, has not received new asylum seeking families and individuals released from short term federal custody into our care. Due to these changes in federal funding and policy, the SDRRN Migrant Shelter Services will be paused until there is better understanding of future community needs.

Jewish Family Service of San Diego and the Center for Jewish Care at JFS are excited to open the next round of scholarship applications for Jewish students in the local community pursing higher education — including college, university, graduate or technical school.

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) CEO Michael Hopkins is a 2024 Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. RTFH is honoring Hopkins with the award for his tireless efforts to combatting homelessness in San Diego County.

Nonprofits and city leaders urge state intervention to support San Diegans facing high living costs. Jewish Family Service is actively involved in addressing these challenges through initiatives and offering programs. “Food security is not just about hunger. When families are given access to housing, healthcare, job support and cash assistance, they can put food on the table and build a foundation to not just survive but thrive,” said Kaley Levitt, Jewish Family Services President of Government Affairs.

Jewish Family Service has served over 4,500 San Diegans sheltering in their vehicles, including 650 children, through its Safe Parking Program. The new Safe Parking Lot, known as H Barracks, has room to accommodate 190 vehicles overnight and will also be run by JFS.

In a tribute to the late Robert Resnik, the community was encouraged to honor his memory through donations to Jewish Family Service, reflecting the Resnik family’s long-standing connection to and support of JFS’s mission. JFS is honored to be part of the Resnik family’s story and grateful for the support during this time of remembrance.

As part of Harvard Law School’s spring break pro bono initiative, students traveled to California to assist with asylum work in partnership with Jewish Family Service (JFS). The collaboration provided students with hands-on experience in immigration law while contributing to JFS’s critical legal services for asylum seekers.