Welcome Home City
Welcome to our webpage, students! We are here to support you! 
Welcome Home City (WHC) is a program designed to support homeless and housing insecure City College students. The WHC team assists students in securing sustainable, long-term housing solutions that support our students' mental health and academic journeys. Once a student connects with the WHC team, relevant campus and community resources will also be provided to address each student’s unique situation.
Due to the volume of requests for housing assistance, WHC currently has a first-come, first-served waitlist for students to gain access to counseling, case management, housing navigation, and, in certain cases, limited housing-focused financial assistance.
Homeless and Housing Insecure includes students who are:
- Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.
- Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
- Living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation.
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
If you are a City College student and are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurities, please complete the Basic Needs Assessment form and a staff member will reach out.
Click button to be directed to form.
Meet the Team! |
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Marco Circosta
Pronouns: he/him
Housing Navigator
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Michael Evans, LCSW
Pronouns: he/him
Case Manager / Mental Health Counselor
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David Howard, LCSW
Pronouns: he/him
Case Manager / Mental Health Counselor
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Emily Saldine, LCSW
Pronouns: she/her
Grant Coordinator
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Sandi Duraid, MA
Pronouns: she/her
Academic Counselor
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Gabriela "Gaby" Castellanos
Pronouns: she/her
Project Assistant
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Welcome Home City hosts workshops on various topics, often related to housing, housing insecurity, and homelessness. See the list below for upcoming workshops in our Spring Housing-Focused Speaker Series; each workshop will be available both in person and on Zoom (ID: 932 9532 4176; Passcode: 104952).
Upcoming Workshops - Fall 2024
Career Center and Employment Resources- Finding Your Fit: Employment Support for YOU – Monday, October 7th, 11AM-12PM, Basic Needs Center (T341)
Hosted by Roger Sanchez, the Job Placement Coordinator at the Transfer and Career Center, this workshop will provide updated and relevant information on what resources City College has to help you get a job! If you are looking for work and having trouble, this workshop is a must-attend event.
Scholarships and Federal Work Study – Monday, November 4th, 11AM-12PM, Basic Needs Center (T341)
Co-hosted by the dynamic Financial Aid duo of Edwidge Dupard (Scholarships) and Paolo Joseph Arriola (Federal Work Study), this workshop will inform you of all of the important dates and processes regarding both scholarships and federal work study. Come with your questions and prepare to learn a whole lot about the world of financial aid.
Searching for Housing in San Diego – Monday, December 9th, 11AM-12PM, Basic Needs Center (T341)
Hosted by Welcome Home City’s very own PATH Housing Navigator, Marco Circosta, this workshop will provide a high-level overview of the various consideration when looking for housing in San Diego. This workshop will also provide resources that will help your housing search to be successful.
Past Workshops - Fall 2024
Navigating Housing Insecurity and Educational Transitions: Strategies for Success and Support – Monday, September 9th, 11AM-12PM, Basic Needs Center (T341)
Hosted by Welcome Home City’s very own general counselor Sandi Duraid, this workshop will address the challenges of housing instability and its impact on academic transcripts, explore strategies to improve the appearance of your transcript, discuss steps to achieve your degree, and review the process for transferring to another university. You'll gain practical tips and techniques for enhancing your transcript and planning for a successful academic future.
Missed a workshop? Please visit our Canvas shell or YouTube page to find recordings of past workshops.
For general basic needs resources, please follow this link.
For housing resources, please follow this link.
Welcome Home City does not provide emergency housing or shelter for students. If you are in need of emergency housing, please contact 211 San Diego (call "211" or visit 211sandiego.org) or visit the Homeless Response Center (HRC) located at 1401 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101.
Please note that, if there are extreme weather conditions, the City of San Diego opens more shelter beds. Please visit this link for updated information on San Diego's Inclement Weather Shelter Bed availability.
Wondering how to contact the WHC program? Feel free to call us at (619) 388-3684, email us at welcomehomecity@sdccd.edu, or drop by the Basic Needs Center in T-341 during our open hours on Mondays-Thursdays from 10AM-2PM.
Welcome Home City hosts daily office hours from 12PM-1PM where you can speak with a staff member, housing navigator, or general counselor with any questions you may have about Welcome Home City.