Deion Williams, Director of Programs, Community Through Hope 

A shower. Basic nutrition. A toothbrush. Clean socks. For the unsheltered homeless clients of Community Through Hope, the simple things make a major difference in the lives of those living on the street.  

Community Through Hope launched Project ReFresh last summer thanks to the generosity of the Community Congregational Church of Chula Vista. Project ReFresh exists to provide a safe space for the unsheltered community to reset and get connected to services that can help them along their path to self-sufficiency. The program offers 3-hour events, held weekly on Tuesdays throughout the South Bay and provides access to mobile showers, hot food, haircuts, clothing, hygiene kits, and services. The events give individuals a place to check in with each other, have meaningful conversations, and a chance to feel human again. 

“Clients often tell us that Project ReFresh is the highlight of their week because it’s something they’ve come to rely on that improves their mental health, physical wellness and also lifts their spirits,” said Sebastian Martinez, Executive Director. 

In May, Project ReFresh reached a milestone when they surpassed 500 showers for the unsheltered homeless community.  

“Project ReFresh is an outreach event that serves the community with basic necessities that many of us take for granted,” said Deion Williams, Director of Programs. “We know this population is growing and we want to ensure we're providing the best services we can to meet their immediate needs.” 

The program is the only one of its kind offering mobile showers to unsheltered homeless individuals living on the street in the South Bay. It offers them hope, while simultaneously building trust in the community.

Last year’s data shows that the majority of clients participating in Project ReFresh were White males (approximately 77%) with an average age of 52, with the youngest being 22 and the oldest, 83. 

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Through Hope had a unique opportunity to partner with the Chula Vista Fire Department to vaccinate up to 50 individuals at one of its Project ReFresh events. The organization would simply not have as big of an impact without its ongoing partnerships with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, The San Diego Humane Society, South Bay Pioneers, and many others. In particular, the partnership with the County’s Office of Homeless Solutions has allowed Community Through Hope to have large-scale events that tackle some of the critical medical needs within the community. 

“Our team and volunteers at Community Through Hope work to minimize the unsheltered crisis by collaborating with community partners, such as HHSA to support client needs,” said Rosy Vasquez, President and CEO, Community Through Hope. “The model we use is centered around clients to offer them dignity and respect.” 

To learn more about this program or to volunteer, visit: www.communitythroughhope.org.