Shoreline Community Services’ latest offering to Pacific Beach is up and running.
Coined Compass Commons, the tiny home community serves as housing for people working their way out of homelessness.
“This falls under the Community Care Crew, Shoreline’s employment program. This is transitional employment for unsheltered people, and it includes about 20 hours of paid work,” said Caryn Blanton, executive director of Shoreline Community Services. “There is career counseling, case management and now, because of this latest addition, they get workforce housing.”
An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on June 23.
The cabins are in the Christ Lutheran Church parking lot on Cass Street. There are six 64-square-foot sleeping cabins, equipped with climate-controlled air, a bed and electricity. Participants have 24-hour access to on-site restrooms, gym memberships for daily showers and meals provided by faith-based partners.
“These are not open to the general public, but instead designed for those involved in Shoreline’s work program,” Blanton said. “We currently have eight individuals in the work program, and six will have access to stay.
“Our biggest concerns are that they are stable and working towards a good job or even career,” she said. “We think many will stay around six months to one year, and then once they feel ready, they will leave.
“We will not end the partnership with any residents until they feel stable and ready to work and leave on their own,” she added.
With Shoreline Community Services leading property management and the work program, a large amount of funding came directly from the County of San Diego. The county awarded $95,000 for the purchase, delivery and assembly as part of its Building Partnerships initiative, which gives trusted local groups tools to expand emergency and transitional housing options.
“This was a very beautiful partnership between the county and Shoreline,” said Brigit Cooper, deputy director of the county’s Office of Homeless Solutions. “This was a grant, and entities applied to the county to receive funding.
“What Shoreline is doing is exactly how the county’s grant program was designed,” Cooper said. “They are able to house people while they are going through programs. This is a great opportunity, and we are happy to be able to offer Shoreline this resource.”
The interior of a tiny house at Compass Commons. (Courtesy of Shoreline Community Services)
For Blanton and the team at Shoreline, ensuring tangible access to life-changing opportunities is a huge part of their day-to-day work.
“Everyone going through the work program is so different,” Blanton said. “We have tailored this to be very individualized, everyone is coming from a different place.”
Another large aspect to the work program and Compass Commons is the idea that individuals taking part are entering the community as an active and able member.
“Everyone within the community nearby got a notice of the Commons, before being built,” she said. “We have had positive feedback from those who understand the goal of the program. A lot of our model that we tell these people is ‘do to others as you would like done to you,’ and they are very grateful.
“Someone who is in our program said ‘After this, I won’t just feel like a community member, I will feel like a neighbor.’ There is something very special about that sense of belonging, in life in general we all just want to belong,” Blanton said.
Viewing the Compass Commons as a steppingstone for those committed to entering the workforce, the space serves as a chance for individuals to rest, recover and commit themselves to work.
“This is not the end all be all,” Blanton said. “This is a steppingstone to what is next. When you finally have that first stone, there is an excitement and a sense of ‘oh this really is happening.’ Having the support of the community also feels important and will have impact on people.”
As individuals work through the Shoreline’s employment program and move beyond the Compass Commons, the organization will remain committed to serving and assisting those across Pacific Beach.
More information about Shoreline Community Services and its other programs, visit shorelinecs.org.