Grant to Give Shelter to Migrant Workers

Temporary shelter for 50 homeless migrant farm workers in Carlsbad will be provided under a $345,000 state grant, the first of its kind for San Diego County, awarded to Caring Residents of Carlsbad Inc.

Sister RayMonda DuVall, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, which will run the shelter, said Friday the grant was approved by the state Department of Housing and Community Development Emergency Shelter Program.

“It’s the first (emergency shelter) grant to a group to provide this kind of housing in this county,” she said.

Kathleen Wellman, a lawyer and president of Caring Residents of Carlsbad, said she will meet with city officials, surveyors and contractors next week to determine how fast the five modular dormitories containing 50 beds can be built.

“I’d like to see it up by the rainy season, but I don’t know if we can do it that quickly,” said Wellman.

The shelter, with bathing, toilet and kitchen facilities, will be placed on 10 acres owned by flower grower Paul Ecke Sr., north of Palomar Airport Road and west of College Boulevard. Ecke agreed to a two-year lease.

Wellman’s group was formed when about 35 Carlsbad residents became concerned over the multitude of homeless migrants who live in crude canyon camp sites and stand along rural El Camino Real each morning to find work.

Wellman obtained City Council backing to seek the grant, which was actually applied for by Catholic Charities because the state only awards grants to local government or experienced providers of social services.

Although the number of homeless migrants in Carlsbad is estimated at 500 to 3,000, Wellman believes a 50-bed shelter will help solve the problem.

Single males will be sheltered for two months and there will be enough turnover to serve 600 people over two years, according to Wellman.

Responding to concern by Mayor Bud Lewis, Wellman said the shelter will cater to documented migrants rather than illegals. “There are plenty of documented people living out in the hills. I’m sure we’ll be able to fill it,” she said.

Catholic Charities will staff the shelter, assisted by volunteers from the nonprofit Caring Residents of Carlsbad. During their 2-month stay, migrants will receive help to find longer-term employment and housing, said Wellman.

DuVall said, “We’re going to start looking for additional funding” so the program can operate longer than two years. She credits Wellman’s group, saying of the shelter, “If it hadn’t been for them, it wouldn’t have happened.”

In late August, the city of Oceanside received a $100,000 state grant for a pilot project to house 21 migrant farm workers in mobile homes on private property.

Oceanside’s grant is different from the one for Carlsbad because it was sought by local government, not a private organization, and allows a local farmer to house his own migrant employees on his property.