From its earliest beginnings Fr. Joe’s Villages was among the organizations funded by Bernard P. Menard and Mary K. Menard. Bernie served on the first advisory board for Fr. Joe Carroll and continued to be one of his supporters and friends. Fr. Joe Carroll is passionate about helping neighbors in need or as he says, “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” He recognizes the homeless and those who find themselves needing support due to any number of circumstances as our “friends next-door.” He also models the imperative of the Christian scriptures to “Feed the hungry” (Isiah 58, Matthew 25, James 2)
Today Fr. Joe’s Villages is San Diego’s largest homeless services provider offering assistance at a number of housing and service locations including: St. Vincent de Paul Village, Joan Kroc Center; the Josue Homes; Paul Mirabile Center; the Medical Clinic and other affordable housing complexes. Fr. Joe’s also staffs one of the large city-owned structures for single women and women with children. They seek to offer a “one-stop-shop” by providing not only housing but rental assistance, healthcare, food, clothing, education, job training, mental health, addiction treatment and child development education. The creed of Fr. Joe’s Villages is: Compassion; Respect; Empathy; Empowerment; and Dignity.
