In a transformative move toward healing and recovery, Father Joe’s Villages is proud to announce the opening of its new 44-bed detox program on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Located inside the Paul Mirabile Center at Father Joe’s Villages downtown campus, this residential program offers essential services for those experiencing homelessness who seek to end their substance use—with dignity, respect, and a comprehensive continuum of care.
Made possible through the incredible generosity of donors who contributed $1.5 million, the detox center is a true testament to the community’s commitment to addressing substance use disorder and homelessness in San Diego.
Meeting a Critical Need
The launch of this program arrives at a critical moment, as San Diego faces an unprecedented demand for detox services—with far too few resources available to meet the growing need. With only 78 detox beds in the County and just two in the City prior to its opening, this program fills a significant gap for those experiencing substance use disorders who may be unhoused or lacking access to treatment. It is designed not only as a space for withdrawal from substances but also as a stepping stone toward long-term recovery.
A Comprehensive Model of Care
What sets this detox program apart is its holistic, evidence-based model, guided by the expertise and longstanding commitment of Father Joe’s Villages in serving people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health diagnoses. Key features include:
Comprehensive, Thoughtful Design: Everything has been considered to make recovery possible in one place—shelter, meals, healthcare, and even space for beloved pets—because healing is possible when clients feel safe and supported.
Onsite Federally Qualified Health Center (Village Health Center): Clients have access to integrated primary care, psychiatry, dental, behavioral health, onsite lab, insurance enrollment, and more—all geared toward meeting health needs alongside detox.
Supportive Environment: Staffed continuously with shelter, security, and trained treatment professionals, the center maintains a dorm-style living setting rooted in Compassion, Respect, Empathy, Empowerment, and Dignity—the Father Joe’s Villages CREED.
Eligibility and Participant Criteria Father Joe’s Villages Detox Program will accept referrals from hospitals, community organizations, justice‐involved individuals, and self‐referrals. Participants must consent to treatment, be self‐motivated, and abide by safety policies.
From Detox to Long-Term Recovery Detox usually lasts between 10 to 14 days, depending on the substance, duration of use, and the participant’s overall health. At the end of their detox stay, participants are supported into the next phase of recovery, whether that means outpatient treatment, residential programs, sober shelters, or other support coordinated by Father Joe’s Villages.
How to Get Started To verify eligibility, individuals or referring entities can complete a confidential online referral form at my.neighbor.org or contact the Detox Program directly. Medi-Cal is accepted, and for those without insurance, Benefits & Enrollment Specialists are on hand to help.
A Vital Step Forward for San Diego This new Detox Program represents more than just another clinical service—it’s a statement of compassion for people often overlooked, a bridge from crisis to stability, and a tangible investment in the health of our communities. Homelessness, substance use, and mental health challenges intersect in complex ways. Providing detox services with integrated care and wraparound support offers a pathway toward recovery, reduces harm, and can restore dignity, hope, and belonging.
For more information about the program or to donate or get involved, please visit my.neighbor.org or call the program directly at 619-665-1607. As this program opens its doors, San Diego gains a powerful new ally in the fight against substance use disorders and homelessness—one that leads with compassion, evidence, and hope.
A perfectly designed home rarely happens by accident. Those kitchens that feel effortless and rooms that seem to tell a story the second you walk in? They’re usually the work of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
It’s knowing which ideas will actually work, which materials will hold up over time, and how to turn a collection of choices into a space that feels intentional. That’s where a professional interior designer comes in.
For the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California San Diego Chapter, the goal is to help people see interior design as more than just the finished look. Behind every well-designed space is a process built on technical expertise. Designers are educated in everything from professional software and construction details to building codes, space planning, materials, and functionality.
Courtesy of ASID
“People don’t always realize how much goes on behind the scenes,” Kirsten Recce , current president of the ASID California San Diego Chapter, says. “Our designers are not just doing furniture placement and color selection and picking out new fluffy pillows. That’s not what they’re trained for.”
ASID members bring formal education, continued learning, and industry knowledge to their projects, helping create spaces that are not only beautiful, but designed to work. A paint color that changes completely depending on the lighting. A material that looks beautiful in a showroom but doesn’t make sense for everyday life. A layout that photographs well but doesn’t function for the people living there. These are the details where professional guidance can make all the difference.
Still, one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that it’s reserved for massive renovations, luxury homes, or people who already know exactly what they want. The process can feel intimidating. Where do you begin? Is a designer worth the investment? What if you only need help with one room?
ASID’s answer: start with one hour.
ASID’s Spruce Up events break down one of the biggest barriers between homeowners and professional design: knowing where to begin. Held twice a year, the community program gives homeowners the chance to work directly with an ASID designer through a one-hour, $125 consultation in their own home. Whether you’re looking for advice on furniture placement, window treatments, kitchen and bath updates, remodeling ideas, vacation rentals, color selections or something else entirely, the upcoming September 2026 event offers an approachable way to get expert guidance before committing to a full project. Signups are open through Sept. 7, with consultations taking place Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. Proceeds benefit ASID San Diego’s educational and community programs. Register here!
Courtesy of ASID
“It’s a great opportunity for people who are in that exploratory phase,” Recce says. “Maybe they’re not sure they want to hire an interior designer yet, or they think it sounds daunting or expensive. This gives them a chance to discover what working with a designer is actually like.”
Design is personal. A good designer isn’t just creating a beautiful room; they’re helping create a space that fits the way someone lives.
“We’re a resource to all of San Diego County,” Recce says. “It doesn’t cost anything to pick up the phone and call and ask. We’ll answer.”
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
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It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
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