In this Op-Ed by Jewish Family Service CEO Michael Hopkins, he discusses the agency’s longtime commitment to Welcoming the Stranger and why it is important to look at refugees on the human level. Hopkins writes, “Immigration is a controversial topic these days, but let’s break it down to the human level. Specifically, I’d like to talk about refugees, who are the most vetted group of displaced people allowed into the U.S. with a clear legal pathway to citizenship. Refugees, half of whom are children, have been forced to flee their home country because of persecution, war or violence. Their lives are at risk, and they have nowhere else to turn.” Hopkins continues to share a story of an Ahmad, who worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan “Our values are unwavering. We know that assisting families like Ahmad’s and the 21 others in our care is the right thing to do. JFS will continue to meet the moment in partnership with the community.”

This week, the Trump Administration froze nearly all federal grants and loans—creating confusion and concern among many nonprofits. JFS is working diligently to prepare and pivot in the days ahead to ensure that our most vulnerable community members continue to have access to basic needs assistance. According to JFS CEO Michael Hopkins, “As an organization, I think that we have a pretty strong muscle to handle these situations.”

Arrests for illegal border crossings plummeted more than 80% to about 47,000 in December from an all-time high of 250,000 the same period a year earlier. Arrests fell by about half when Mexican authorities increased enforcement within their own borders a year ago and by about half again when former President Joe Biden introduced severe asylum restrictions in June. The Associated Press joined the Border Patrol for six hours Thursday in San Diego, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings much of the last year, and found no migrants until the last half-hour. Jewish Family Service of San Diego said Friday its shelter had not received any migrants since the Trump administration ended use of the online border app, CBP One, for migrants to legally enter. It served 791 people the week before Trump took office.

Colleagues Fred Caban, Jr. (38) and Tom Stewart (47) remember the successes and challenges of addressing food insecurity and other social issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss their work at the Jewish Family Service of San Diego and what they hope future generations learn from the pandemic.

San Diego County is implementing a new state law expanding who can be placed in an involuntary hold for psychiatric evaluation and treatment. NBC 7’s Shelby Bremer has more on this change and impact.

Experts say they expect about 1,500 additional detentions in 2025 with expansion of gravely disabled definition. Standing before a group of mental health care professionals at the Psychiatric Hospital of San Diego County on a recent afternoon, JFS Senior Director Mike Phillips explained the highly nuanced criteria of Senate Bill 43, the law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that many have said attempts to increase the number of unhoused residents placed under government conservatorship.

In a heartwarming display of community service, a local Girl Scout is making the holidays brighter for San Diego’s unhoused community. Sofia Klein turned her love of reading into a Little Library at the JFS Safe Parking Lot in Mission Valley. Her Literacy Program has even earned her the coveted Girl Scouts Silver Award, a testament to her dedication to community service.

Meet Marion and Harvey Yurow, an 88-year-old retired teacher and a 92-year-old retired research chemist, who are finding new ways to maintain their independence as they navigate the challenges of no longer being able to drive. Thanks to On the Go, a Jewish Family Service program, they receive free rides to medical appointments and more. On the Go urgently needs volunteer drivers to help older adults like Marion and Harvey stay safe, independent, and connected to their community. Learn more at www.jfssd.org/otg.

Jewish Family Service’s On the Go program helps older adults like Harvey and Marion Yurow, who find it harder to access safe and reliable transportation. OTG relies on volunteer drivers but faces a growing need, especially in East and North County. By giving just one or two rides a month, volunteers can make a meaningful difference, helping older adults maintain independence and stay connected to their community. Learn more at www.jfssd.org/volunteer/serve-older-adults.

“Every person in the Safe Parking Program has a unique situation, and we make a plan with them based on their circumstances,” says Nichole. “The average length of stay varies greatly as some guests are disabled or seniors on a fixed income waiting for an affordable housing unit, while some guests just need a temporary place to stay for three to four months to save money to enter back into more stable housing. Challenges guests often face include a low-volume of available, affordable rental units or a low credit score that prohibits someone from meeting income requirements for a rental agreement, especially when they require two or three times the monthly rent.”

“The last three weeks have been filled with reflection, as November often brings. But this year feels different. It demands more courage from each of us.” This is how Dana Toppel, CEO Designate/COO, begins her discussion of how, as a community, we need to “stand side by side, grounded in our shared humanity, (and) become unbreakable.”

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) and other local immigration advocacy groups reaffirm their commitment to supporting refugees and asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Michael Hopkins, CEO of JFS, emphasized the organization’s dedication to offering compassionate services, legal representation, and resettlement support to vulnerable families, ensuring that those seeking refuge are met with dignity and care.

Illegal border crossings have plunged to the lowest level in four years, according to new data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. To understand how that fact squares with the fraught political rhetoric, KQED looked at the current dynamics of migration at California’s border with Mexico. Several factors are contributing to the turnaround. For one, since the beginning of the year, Mexico has cracked down on migrants heading for the U.S. border. And in June, Biden issued an executive order barring access to the asylum process for those who enter illegally when crossings are high. CEO Designate Dana Toppel comments about Jewish Family Service’s role, “To us, it’s about dignity. It’s really about centering the individual and being very trauma-informed.”

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria highlights the impact of the city’s Safe Parking Program, operated by Jewish Family Service, which provides unsheltered residents with a safe place to park and access to essential services like job training, housing support, and mental health care. JFS is committed to meeting people where they are in their journey, empowering them with the tools, resources, and support they need to move forward and thrive.

Kayla Herrera has always dreamed of having a place her family could call home. That was until she ended up at the Rose Canyon Safe Parking lot, which is run by Jewish Family Services. Her family moved into one of the trailers. The lot is a 24-hour safe space for families experiencing homelessness. Those staying there are connected with programs and services to get them into permanent housing.

Join Jewish Family Service and Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, a global social justice activist, and JFS CEO Michael Hopkins for an inspiring luncheon, “The Role of Compassion in Social Change.” Held on November 12 at the Marriott in Del Mar, this engaging discussion will explore how compassion can drive positive change in our communities. Reserve your spot and purchase tickets at jfssd.org/luncheon2024.

The JFS Center for Jewish Care and its Rabbi Susan Freeman emphasizes compassionate listening as a powerful way to combat loneliness and strengthen community bonds. Through programs like Friendly Match, volunteers are trained to build meaningful relationships with seniors, fostering connection and hope. The next training begins on October 27, with opportunities to participate in person or online. For more details, visit www.jfssd.org/volunteer

A resolution has been reached in a class action lawsuit challenging San Diego’s vehicle habitation ordinances, offering significant relief for individuals relying on their vehicles for shelter. The settlement expands Safe Parking Programs. JFS’s Safe Parking Program offers a pathway out of homelessness and a return to stable housing by providing the tools, resources, and support needed to help individuals move forward and thrive.

This year, Jewish Family Service’s luncheon, hosted by the Center for Jewish Care, features a conversation between Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz and Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service, exploring how compassion can drive systemic change and heal communities. The event highlights the Jewish value of compassion as a catalyst for social transformation, with insights on how individuals and communities can practice empathy and kindness in today’s world. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.jfssd.org/luncheon2024

Charlie Pinkus, Past President of the Coronado Hospital Auxiliary brings joy to San Diego children. Pinkus, a member of the San Diego Fine Woodworking Association, makes handcrafted doll cradles and Green’s quilters make tiny bedding for them. The cradles are distributed to nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego County, including Jewish Family Service.

El Programa de Crianza Positiva (PPP) ayuda a los padres en el Condado de San Diego a encontrar soluciones efectivas a problemas comunes de comportamiento infantil. Este programa se apoya en estrategias respaldadas por más de 35 años de investigación.

Jewish Family Service operates four safe parking sites in the city, with more than 230 parking spaces. Since 2018, the program has served more than 5,000 individuals and 3,000 households at six sites in San Diego County. More than a third of them have moved into more secure housing, including permanent housing, hotel rooms and shelters, according to Jewish Family Service.

Whereas in its heyday, the College Avenue Senior Center drew between 80 and 120 people for a full day of programming, including lectures, exercise, movies, and an inexpensive lunch, since its resumption after the COVID pandemic, the center’s attendance has averaged only 15 people, and even fewer for the lunch program, according to JFS CEO Designate Dana Toppel. JFS remains committed to helping older adults in our community stay healthy, active, and independent in their own homes through dignified aging care services that include nutritional support, On the Go transportation, the JFS Fix-It Service, and more.

After two months negotiating with a potential contractor to run a migrant center, San Diego County is going back to the drawing board to select an operator for a transfer center and respite shelter to help recently arrived migrants. The county and Jewish Family Service of San Diego couldn’t develop a sustainable plan and agreed to end contract talks for the nonprofit to operate the center, they announced Friday. “Despite best faith efforts, the two parties have been unable to develop a plan to meet the scope of work required to address the needs of migrants in the region based on federal funding criteria and have mutually agreed to end negotiations,” county spokesperson Michael Workman said in a joint statement with the organization.

Jewish Family Service of San Diego’s On the Go program currently helps more than 2,000 seniors in need with transportation. Volunteers assist local seniors by driving them in their own cars to the grocery store, the doctor’s office or other essential destinations. “As we know, the population here in San Diego is definitely trending upwards with older adults in our community. So we see a great need for folks who want to stay living independently in their homes but maybe who can no longer drive,” said Sunni Robertson, Director of Volunteer Engagement, Jewish Family Service of San Diego.