Although the primary focus of the Winter Shelter Program is to shelter participants from the elements during the coldest and wettest period of the year, the program also offers many services to assist participants in establishing self-sufficiency.

Grant Recipient:  Alpha Project

Supported by the Waitt Foundation and others, the Alpha Project has demonstrated for more than two decades that the homeless, with opportunities and a little help, can become community assets instead of liabilities. As a result, Alpha Project was selected in 2002 to operate San Diego’s only emergency shelter for single adults, known as the Winter Shelter Program.

San Diego’s Homeless

San Diego County’s homeless population includes at least 15,000 urban dwellers and day laborers/farm workers, not including thousands of additional undocumented workers. Operating from mid-November to mid-March, the Winter Shelter Program provides services to over 1,000 different men and women every day, including a disproportionately large population of elderly and disabled.

"Tent City" ~ The shelter operates from mid-November to mid-March and provides shelter and services to over 1,000 different men and women.

The Basics & Much More

Alpha Project wants to end homelessness, not manage it. Providing much more than temporary shelter from the cold, Alpha Project works with over 20 partner organizations to deliver basic services, such as meals and personal hygiene supplies, as well as long-range assistance such as employment and housing. By offering the homeless opportunities, respect and empowerment—not hand-outs or pity—Alpha Project helps the homeless end their cycle of dependence and regain their self-sufficiency. Over 24,000 different men, women and children access one or more Alpha Project services each year.

How to Help

There are many ways to Support the Alpha Project, from giving money online, to donating personal items at drop-off locations throughout the city, to volunteering a few hours of time. Top items needed always include socks, shoes, blankets, twin sheets, phone cards, sleeping bags, bottled water, hygiene items, undergarments, pillows and pillow cases.

About Alpha Project

Well-known as a place “where miracles happen,” Alpha Project for the Homeless is a nonprofit human services organization that assists over 2,000 men, women, and children each day. Services include affordable housing, residential substance abuse treatment, supportive housing for people with special needs, basic and emergency services for the homeless, transportation assistance, mental health counseling, employment training, preparation and placement, emergency shelter, HIV/AIDS, education, outreach and prevention and community services.

Resources/Media

Alpha Project Web site
Alpha Project YouTube