Let’s Palooza: Kicking Off a 100-Day Campaign to House 75 People in San Diego
San Diego is turning up the heat this summer. Still, it’s not just the weather that’s sizzling—our community is fired up about the Shared Housing Palooza, an ambitious 100-day challenge to find homes for 75 people experiencing homelessness. And trust us, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill campaign; it’s a full-blown housing extravaganza!
What’s the Shared Housing Palooza All About?
Imagine a giant, county-wide matchmaking event, but instead of romance, we’re pairing people up for shared housing. The Shared Housing Palooza is all about getting creative and using our collective resources to make sure more people have a roof over their heads. By matching individuals experiencing homelessness with housemates, we’re making housing more affordable and accessible for everyone involved. This isn’t just about finding a place to live—it’s about building community, sharing costs, and creating stability in a way that’s fun and innovative.
The event kicked off on August 1, 2024, at Father Joe’s Villages, and brought together a dream team of over 70 attendees from 27 agencies across San Diego County. We’re talking about some serious brainpower, all focused on one mission: housing 75 individuals in 100 days. And we’ve got a public dashboard to track every success so that you can follow along in real time!
The Kickoff: A High-Energy Start
The launch was nothing short of inspiring. We heard from Tamera Kohler, CEO of the Regional Task Force on Homelessness; Joe LaCava, San Diego City Council President Pro Tem; and Melissa Peterman, Executive Director of Townspeople. They didn’t just talk the talk; they rallied everyone around this ambitious goal, highlighting how this campaign is about more than just numbers—it’s about creating lasting change in how we tackle homelessness.
“Shared housing is one creative way to make housing more affordable, available, and accessible,” LaCava said, capturing the spirit of collaboration that’s driving this effort. The room was buzzing with energy, and the message was clear: San Diego is ready to roll up its sleeves and make this happen.
Building a Pathway to Permanent Housing (and Having Fun Doing It!)
But it wasn’t all speeches and handshakes. The event dove right into the nitty-gritty of how we’re going to pull this off. From strategy discussion on using data and outreach to navigate the complexities of housing to landlord engagement and housing stabilization, we covered it all. The day’s highlight? The Shared Housing Connect session—a meet-and-greet where folks could explore shared housing options, play around with our online housemate matching portal, and even meet potential housemates in person. We had 38 participants diving in, ready to find their perfect living situation.
Melissa Peterman summed it up perfectly: “Shared housing is a powerful tool in our mission to provide stable, affordable housing and foster a sense of community.” This is about more than just putting a roof over someone’s head—it’s about creating a support system that helps people thrive.
Expanding the San Diego Shared Housing Collaborative: The Heart of the Palooza
At the core of this 100-day challenge is the San Diego Shared Housing Collaborative, an initiative led by Townspeople. The Collaborative has been quietly revolutionizing how we think about housing by pairing individuals with housemates, helping them share costs, and creating stable living arrangements.
With funding from fantastic partners like Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, and the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, we’re ready to take this model to the next level.
“Homelessness is a solvable problem,” said Tamera Kohler and she’s absolutely right. We need to keep thinking outside the box—and that’s precisely what the Palooza is all about. We’re not just looking for solutions; we’re creating them.
Join the Effort: A Call to Action
We’re calling on everyone—yes, that means you!—to get involved in this life-changing campaign. Do you own a multi-bedroom unit? Rent it out to our housemates and be a part of the solution. Are you a service provider? Jump on board and help us make this happen. Even if you’re a San Diego resident who cares, you can make a difference by donating essentials like move-in kits and furnishings.
Let’s make some magic together and show the world what San Diego can do when we unite for a common cause.
Get Involved and Stay Updated
We’re in this together, and we want you along for the ride. Visit the Townspeople website to follow the Palooza’s progress, get involved, or cheer us on from the sidelines. Every bit of support, whether it’s offering housing, providing services, donating goods, or raising awareness, brings us one step closer to ending homelessness in our community.
Got questions or want to join the fun? Reach out to us at sharedhousing@townspeople.org. Let’s Palooza our way to a better future!
Photos by KGHAUS Photography. Staff and attendees of Shared Housing Connect.