SAN DIEGO — Father Joe’s Villages will open its first fully dedicated detox facility.
“Ending homelessness and saving lives demands we adapt and provide new solutions for the ever-changing environment our neighbors in need face,” Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO of Father Joe’s Villages, a Catholic organization, said at a July 31 press conference.
“To meet the moment,” he said, “we will build the region’s largest detox and sober shelter facility for people struggling with substance use.”
The facility, which is expected to open next year, will contain 45 beds that turn over every 14 days, providing a 90-bed complement every month.
There are only 78 Medi-Cal eligible detox beds in all of San Diego County, making the additional 45 beds at Father Joe’s a significant increase of what exists currently throughout the region.
Underscoring the pressing need for such a facility, statistics show that more than 1,772 people have died of fentanyl-related deaths in San Diego County since 2019.
The new center will be located at the organization’s main facility at 1501 Imperial Ave. It was made possible by the Land Development Code (LDC) update approved by the City Council in early July. Each year, the city adopts changes to the way that it governs land-use and permitting.
Councilmember Raul Campillo, who represents the 7th District and was among the speakers at Father Joe’s Villages’ press conference, pushed for code changes to lower barriers and eliminate red tape for building behavioral health facilities.
Father Joe’s Villages’ new facility is the first of its kind to be announced since the passage of the code update.
“Because of these changes, more San Diegans will be empowered to take brave steps toward recovery and reclaiming their lives,” said Councilmember Campillo.
“We are grateful for Father Joe’s Villages, which is stepping in to provide both behavioral health services and housing for individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who represents the 3rd District, in which the new facility is located. “Their new program is designed to better serve those with behavioral health challenges, helping them overcome their current situation in a safe manner.”
