|
|
|
A Message from Our Executive Director
|
Dear Friends of HOPE,
|
This week marks my two-year anniversary as Executive Director of Operation HOPE-North County, and it feels less like a personal milestone than a celebration of what we've accomplished together.
|
When I walked through our doors two years ago, I knew I was joining an organization with an extraordinary mission. What I couldn't have imagined was the incredible community of staff, volunteers, board members, donors, faith-based communities, businesses, foundations, and public partners who make this work possible every single day.
|
Serving families experiencing homelessness is deeply meaningful work. Some victories bring tears of joy, setbacks that test our resolve, and countless ordinary moments where hope quietly takes root through a shared meal, a financial literacy class, a case management meeting, or simply someone believing in a family's future.
|
During the past two years, I've had the privilege of celebrating families receiving apartment keys, watching children laugh after months of uncertainty, and seeing parents discover strengths they didn't know they had. Those moments remind me why this work matters. They remind me that lasting change rarely happens all at once. It happens one courageous decision, one relationship, and one opportunity at a time.
|
While I'm grateful to celebrate this milestone, the real celebration belongs to the families who chose hope, the staff who show up every day with compassion, the Board of Directors who provide thoughtful leadership, and every volunteer, donor, and partner who believes that homelessness does not define a family's future.
|
As we close another fiscal year, I wanted to pause and simply say thank you.
|
|
Our Impact by the Numbers
|
| | | 54 Families rebuilt their lives
| | |
|
| | | | | 161 Individuals found safety and support through Operation HOPE - North County
|
|
| | | | | 97 Children experienced stability, consistency, and hope during one of the most difficult seasons of their lives
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | 73% of Families who exited our program moved into stable housing
|
|
| | |
|
|
| |
|
Real Families, Real Turning Points
|
Rocio arrived at Operation Hope after years of instability and domestic violence, uncertain what the future held for her and her son. From day one, she leaned into everything the program offered — budgeting classes, parenting workshops, sessions with her case manager — and even brought resources she found in the community back to share with other clients. Ninety-three days later, Rocio moved into a long-term transitional housing program with renewed confidence and a clear path forward. Her son, once shy and reserved, left our shelter having formed real friendships.
|
Ruby arrived during the holiday season with her two-year-old daughter, facing homelessness for the first time in her life. While staying with us, she kept her job, enrolled in an Adult Education program toward her Medical Assistant Certificate, and worked with her case manager to build a realistic savings plan. Her persistence paid off: Ruby secured her own apartment in Escondido, with move-in assistance covering her deposit and first month's rent. She told us the program "truly lived up to its name — providing not only shelter, but hope."
|
Rose stepped in to raise her grandson years ago to keep him out of foster care, and when the family lost their housing, she brought him to Operation HOPE-North County not knowing what to expect. Over 167 days, Rose secured full-time work as a caregiver, learned to budget and save through our financial literacy classes, and — in her words — learned that asking for help is a step toward healing, not a weakness. She and her grandson now have a place of their own.
|
These are three families whose stories we compiled this year. Their paths were different — some left unsafe relationships, some faced their first experience of homelessness after a sudden job loss, some navigated the shelter in a second language — Different stories. Different challenges. One common thread: when families are surrounded by safety, accountability, and a community that believes in them, transformation becomes possible.
|
|
|
|
| | | 232 Educational Workshops
| | |
|
| | | | | | | 42 Financial Literacy Classes
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | | 94 Social - Emotional Wellness Workshops
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | | | Families also reported high levels of satisfaction with our services, with 96% saying they were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of care they received. And 93% of program participants agreed that our staff treated them with dignity, courtesy, and respect.
|
|
|
|
|
Those classes became turning points for many families. One mother used the budgeting skills she learned to save enough to secure her own apartment. Another participant balanced overnight CNA shifts while completing her bachelor's degree and ultimately moved her family into stable housing. A father and mother who had recently immigrated to the United States shared that financial literacy classes helped them understand banking, credit, and savings for the first time as they prepared for a fresh start with their infant daughter.
|
|
Strengthening Our Community
|
Operation HOPE's impact extends well beyond the walls of our shelter.
|
Through our Pantry of HOPE and community outreach programs, we distributed:
|
| | | | | | | Served 2,179 Community Members
|
|
| | |
|
|
For many families, these resources helped prevent homelessness before it began.
|
|
|
A Year of Strong Stewardship
|
FY26 also demonstrated the resilience of this organization.
|
Together, our community invested nearly $1.36 million in Operation HOPE's mission, bringing us within reach of fully funding our annual operations despite significant economic challenges. During the year, we successfully navigated continued fiscal uncertainty, all while maintaining services for families and strengthening our financial foundation.
|
That kind of resilience only happens because our community believes every child deserves a safe place to call home.
|
That investment meant children no longer slept in cars. Parents escaping violence found safety. Grandparents raising grandchildren found stability. Families who once wondered where they would sleep the next night are now signing leases, starting new jobs, enrolling in school, and building savings for the future.
|
Thank you for believing in what is possible. Together, we're not just providing shelter. We're helping families write the next chapter of their stories.
|
None of these accomplishments would have been possible without our extraordinary staff, whose compassion, professionalism, and unwavering belief in our families transforms hope into action every single day. I am honored to serve alongside them.
|
|
|
Looking Ahead
|
As I begin my third year at Operation HOPE-North County, I remain incredibly optimistic.
|
We're expanding government partnerships, strengthening services for survivors of domestic violence, investing in our team, and continuing to build a sustainable future for families and single women throughout North County.
|
Even as we celebrate an extraordinary year, our work is far from finished. During FY26, Operation HOPE-North County received 509 applications for shelter services, including 313 families and 196 single women seeking safety, stability, and a fresh start. While we were honored to serve as many as our capacity allowed, every application represented someone searching for hope. The need for safe shelter and supportive services continues to far exceed the resources available, reminding us that our work is more important than ever.
|
The need remains great, but so does our hope.
|
But if the past year has reminded me of anything, it's this:
|
Hope grows when a community comes together.
|
Thank you for believing in our mission. Thank you for investing in families. And thank you for reminding us every day that hope is strongest when it is shared.
|
With gratitude,
|
Esperanza Zapico
Executive Director
Operation HOPE-North County
|
|
|
Stay Connected — Upcoming at Operation HOPE
|
| | | | BABY FORMULA GIVEAWAY
🍼 Supporting Local Families
| We’re proud to support local families by providing free baby formula to those in need! Join us for our upcoming Baby Formula Giveaway on Saturday, September 12, from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM at 840 Townsite Drive, Vista, CA. We invite families in our community to stop by and receive this essential support while supplies last.
|
|
|
|
|
| | SIDEWALK SALE
| Shop, save, and support a great cause!
| Join us for our Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, September 26, from 7:30 AM–12:00 PM at 840 Townsite Drive, Vista. Browse a variety of great finds while supporting Operation HOPE–North County. Every purchase directly supports our programs and helps us continue serving families in our community.
| | |
|
| | |
|
|
