Brother Benno’s was started by Harold and Kay Kutler as a Soup Kitchen in downtown Oceanside. They named it after Brother Benno Garrity, a Benedictine monk who was well known for his tireless service to the poor in the Oceanside area. The first meal was served on October 21, 1983; and Brother Benno himself made a big cauldron of soup at his abbey and brought it to the little house that bore his name. For the first few years, those who came to the Kitchen were mainly street people. Now most of our guests are the working poor (parents and children who struggle on a daily basis for their most basic needs), the disabled, and low-income senior citizens. In order to provide these needs, Brother Benno’s has expanded its services beyond food
Interfaith Community Services: Inland Service Center
Interfaith Community Services, was founded in 1982 by a handful of diverse faith communities to address the needs of low-income, homeless, and underserved people in North San Diego County. Separately, these congregations were providing relief to people in need, but by creating Interfaith they were better able to collaborate to make a bigger impact on the needs of people in our community. As participation grew, Interfaith evolved into broad continuum of programs and services that provides the tools and resources people in crisis need to stabilize and rebuild their lives. These programs are organized into nine main areas: food and basic needs, shelters and housing, family and social services, employment services, children and youth programs, senior services, veterans assistance, addiction recovery, and community connections. Under these department headings are numerous programs covering a broad spectrum of support. Programs are designed to overlap so that each client receives as many services as necessary for his/her specific situation.
The Way Back
The Way Back provides a 27-bed residential facility for male alcoholics. The rehabilitation program includes Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, alcohol education, referral to community resources, and individual, group, and family participation. Independent living is also offered in an 8-bed sober living center (6 months of sobriety required; placement usually follows completion of program at the residential facility).
North County Lifeline
North County Lifeline’s mission is to build self-reliance among youth, individuals and families through problem solving, skill-building and accessible community-based services.
Vista Office:
200 Michigan Avenue, Vista, CA 92084
(760) 726-4900
Oceanside Office:
707 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 757-0118
Casa de Amparo: Residential Services
Casa Kids, prenatal through 18 years old, who have been traumatized by severe child abuse or neglect, stay at the Casa Kids Campus, a safe and nurturing setting on 11.4 acres of land in San Marcos, California. Each Casa Kid receives comprehensive trauma informed care tailored to their individual physical, social, emotional, developmental, and educational needs, while also ensuring they have as many healthy childhood experiences as possible. Casa de Amparo is licensed to accept ambulatory and non-ambulatory children and those with special healthcare needs. It is the only licensed group home in San Diego County serving pregnant and/or parenting foster youth.
New Haven Youth and Family Services
New Haven offers a day treatment program and a residential treatment program that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week in 12 six-bed residences throughout Vista, Oceanside and San Marcos. Our program works to engage and instruct youth who have been unsuccessful in public school due to behavioral, mental health, substance abuse, learning disabilities and/or truancy problems.
Vista Hill: Sober Living and Geisel House
Recognizing that a stable home environment is essential to successful recovery from substance abuse, Vista Hill found a solution by acquiring a 26-unit apartment complex in 2000. Operating as a sober living environment, the Vista Hill Sober Living Apartments provide transitional housing in a safe and sober environment in the Lemon Grove community.
Encinitas Community Resource Center
Founded in 1979, Community Resource Center (CRC) is a nonprofit social services agency serving residents throughout coastal North San Diego County. CRC is dedicated to helping women and children, individuals, and families live safe, self-sufficient lives by providing critical assistance in the areas of domestic violence services, food programs, and emergency and transitional housing assistance.
Crisis House: Transitional Living Programs
Crisis House provides transitional living programs for homeless women with children fleeing domestic violence situations, homeless families with children, and adults with substance abuse history and mental health issues.
Multiple locations
North County Lifeline: LifeSpring House
The LifeSpring House and Apartments provide transitional housing for young people turning 18 and aging out of the foster care system. We provide housing for up to two years for young adults ages 18-24 as they cross the bridge between foster living and full independence. Life Spring also helps support residents’ young families with housing, as well as employment and financial goals.
