Deacon Jim Vargas, CEO of Father Joe’s Villages, joins Dear San Diego for a powerful conversation about homelessness, housing, behavioral health, and what it really takes to move people from the streets to stability.

But this episode goes beyond policy and systems. Deacon Jim shares his journey from the Bronx to San Diego, how faith shaped his path, and why simply saying hello, volunteering, and listening changes how we see people experiencing homelessness.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome to Dear San Diego + Life Updates
00:02:20 – Introducing Justine Murray & Deacon Jim Vargas
00:04:06 – From the Bronx to San Diego: Jim’s Early Life
00:07:35 – From Banking to Ministry: A Life Pivot
00:11:11 – Leading Father Joe’s Villages
00:14:05 – The Legacy of Father Joe Carroll
00:18:26 – Innovation in Homeless Services
00:21:12 – What Father Joe’s Villages Actually Does
00:27:15 – Measuring Progress & What’s Working
00:39:13 – Behavioral Health Surge & The Human Side of Homelessness

Deacon Jim Vargas, CEO of Father Joe&rsquo;s Villages, joins Dear San Diego for a powerful conversation about homelessness, housing, behavioral health, and what it really takes to move people from the streets to stability.
But this episode goes beyond policy and systems. Deacon Jim shares his journey from the Bronx to San Diego, how faith shaped his path, and why simply saying hello, volunteering, and listening changes how we see people experiencing homelessness.
Chapters:
00:00:00 &ndash; Welcome to Dear San Diego + Life Updates 00:02:20 &ndash; Introducing Justine Murray &amp; Deacon Jim Vargas 00:04:06 &ndash; From the Bronx to San Diego: Jim&rsquo;s Early Life 00:07:35 &ndash; From Banking to Ministry: A Life Pivot 00:11:11 &ndash; Leading Father Joe&rsquo;s Villages 00:14:05 &ndash; The Legacy of Father Joe Carroll 00:18:26 &ndash; Innovation in Homeless Services 00:21:12 &ndash; What Father Joe&rsquo;s Villages Actually Does 00:27:15 &ndash; Measuring Progress &amp; What&rsquo;s Working 00:39:13 &ndash; Behavioral Health Surge &amp; The Human Side of Homelessness

Dear San Diego is a public affairs podcast with personality.

Hosted by veteran communication specialists Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez, Dear San Diego gives newsmakers and others a platform to discuss the big issues of the day, but that’s just the beginning. 

Tony and Juan’s guests share what’s not in their bios, who they are away from work, secrets to success, and more. Tony and Juan also discuss work, home, fatherhood, health and wellness, and youth sports – where the politics can be way more fierce than they are at city hall. 

Tony and Juan met a decade ago while working for dueling mayoral candidates in San Diego. Since then, the two friends have worked together on numerous public affairs, land-use, and issue campaigns. 

Dear San Diego is a public affairs podcast with personality.
Hosted by veteran communication specialists Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez, Dear San Diego gives newsmakers and others a platform to discuss the big issues of the day, but that’s just the beginning. 
Tony and Juan’s guests share what’s not in their bios, who they are away from work, secrets to success, and more. Tony and Juan also discuss work, home, fatherhood, health and wellness, and youth sports – where the politics can be way more fierce than they are at city hall. 
Tony and Juan met a decade ago while working for dueling mayoral candidates in San Diego. Since then, the two friends have worked together on numerous public affairs, land-use, and issue campaigns.

Dear San Diego

Hosted by veteran public relations specialists, Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez discuss the not so obvious talents, attributes, and behaviors of fellow colleagues. Learn what's not in the bios and CV's and what's be the secret to the sauce of their success.

Hosted by veteran public relations specialists, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymanolatos">Tony Manolatos</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-m-hernandez-pisano-3166a275/">Juan Hernandez</a> discuss the not so obvious talents, attributes, and behaviors of fellow colleagues. Learn what's not in the bios and CV's and what's be the secret to the sauce of their success.