More San Diegans experiencing homelessness cite employment as a key factor in ending their homelessness than they do affordable housing, according to this study. For this reason and more, the Lucky Duck Foundation has invested more than $2.5 million in support of more than 25 different job training and employment opportunities to help individuals avoid or end homelessness. We put employment dollars to work where there is the greatest need, strongest outcomes, and best bang for the buck.
Programs include but are not limited to culinary training, community beautification, food rescue, trash cleanup, certificate programs in the construction, healthcare, technology and manufacturing industries, access to college education, and more.
More than 1,000 individuals have benefited and each program is designed to give individuals experiencing homelessness an opportunity to improve their earning power, employability, and housing.
One employment program hires Salvation Army shelter residents to be food rescue route drivers by operating routes provided by Feeding San Diego. This three-pronged collaborative effort has rescued more than 670,000 pounds of food, and nearly all graduates have secured full-time employment and are still housed. The program was featured nationally on Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News and Fox News.
Another unique and effective employment program is Timmy’s Place, a pizzeria and print shop which trains and employs youth suffering from homelessness at a youth homeless center in downtown San Diego.
Union Tribune coverage: Homeless youths learning job skills at San Diego pizzeria, print shop
Another example is Work for Hope, which helps individuals leave the streets, overcome addiction, and gain employment beautifying city-owned parks throughout Chula Vista.
KPBS: Formerly homeless man gets people housed and off the streets in Chula Vista
Personal or corporate checks can be made out to:
The Lucky Duck Foundation
5675 Ruffin Road, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92123
Leave a lasting legacy by including the Lucky Duck Foundation in your estate planning.
There are many ways your organization can get involved and support community giving and volunteering.
We offer turnkey peer-to-peer fundraising so you can create your own fundraising page and invite your friends and family to support the Lucky Duck Foundation and its programs.
We’ve partnered with LNDRY, a premier laundry service in San Diego, to pick up your gently used clothes donation (for free!) to help homeless employment and education-seekers look and feel their best!
Enjoy premium craft coffee with a purpose. Our coffee partner, Tower Roasting Co., provides 100% organic fair trade coffee while helping to prevent and reduce homelessness in San Diego by donating 30% of every sale.
Our “Shamrocks & Shipwrecks” scoring system publicly highlights tangible, positive action and calls out shortcomings of elected leaders for addressing homelessness throughout San Diego County.
Join our newsletter to stay informed about the Lucky Duck Foundation’s programs and to see how your donations are making a difference.
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5675 Ruffin Road, Suite 100,
San Diego, CA 92123
The Lucky Duck Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 20-3324885
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