After years of uncertainty that began during the pandemic, Claire moved to San Diego for a new job opportunity and hoped it would be the start of a more stable chapter.
But shortly after arriving from the East Coast, she lost her job. Without family nearby, Claire found herself sleeping in a rental car in Carlsbad with her dog while searching for work and an affordable place to live.
A few months later, Claire started a new job in the automotive industry. But even with employment, housing remained out of reach. She was working while still living in her car or occasionally staying in hotels, trying to show up professionally each day without the basic privacy and stability of a home.
“Starting a new job and living in my car or occasionally hotels, I was very self-conscious about my hygiene,” Claire shared. “It was truly awful. In a place like Carlsbad, I’d be in the beach bathroom trying to get ready for work while people around me were getting ready to exercise or surf. I didn’t have a bathroom of my own.”
Claire began doing her own research, looking for any resource that could help her move forward.
“I’ve never reached out for help. I started doing homework and looking for resources in the area, but I kept hitting brick walls. I just needed resources. I was determined to find somebody who would hear me,” she said.
After seeing news coverage about the Carlsbad Encampment Resolution Project, Claire reached out to the Housing Authority. A partner outreach worker met Claire where she was staying and helped connect her with resources and Community Resource Center for ongoing support.
At CRC, Claire was welcomed with care. She met with Maria, her CRC case manager, who helped her through the Rapid Rehousing Program. She also received nutritious food through CRC’s Food & Nutrition Center and connected with mental health support, including psychiatry and ongoing psychotherapy services, through CRC. Together, these resources helped meet immediate needs while Claire continued working toward housing and long-term stability.
“My case manager, Maria, was so hands-on and helped keep me accountable. CRC gave me consistency when I needed it most. I needed them at a critical time, and they didn’t let me down.”
By November, Claire received a call from Maria that a Rapid Rehousing spot had become available. “And it truly was pretty rapid from there,” she said. Claire was able to move in about a week later, during the week of Christmas.
CRC supported Claire with application fees, deposit and the first three months of rent. She also received household items, ongoing case management and continued support from CRC’s Food & Nutrition Center.
For Claire, moving in meant more than having an apartment. It meant having a foundation that made the next steps possible.
That first week in her new home was especially meaningful. “They had an SUV full of food and all kinds of things to make the apartment a home,” Claire said. Claire was able to share a meal with another family she had gotten to know while they were also unsheltered and staying in hotels. The family, which includes three children, is still working toward finding a place of their own, and Claire continues to support and encourage them as they move forward.
For Claire, CRC’s support has helped her keep moving forward while honoring her own determination.
“CRC provides constructive solutions. Had they just given me hotel vouchers, I would have still been in the same problem. They gave me real solutions. They truly laid the tracks for me. They’re helping me help myself too. That has been really big.”
Since moving in, Claire has continued to work hard toward her goals.
“I transferred my driver’s license, bought an affordable car that is registered and insured, and got my occupational license. I’m listing all these things because these are things I was not equipped for before. Dealing with everything and trying to find housing and work was very overwhelming. I’ve done all of those things for myself here.”
“I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it were it not for the foundation I’ve had from CRC. It’s been amazing.”
As Claire rebuilds stability, she is also reconnecting with parts of herself that had been difficult to focus on during years of uncertainty. She has found joy in cooking again, sharing food with coworkers and trying new recipes.
When asked about her goals for the future, Claire said she is focused on building lasting stability and a sense of normalcy.
“I want to feel secure, whatever that looks like. I just want stability. That’s my primary goal. I would like to have a family and normalcy.”
Claire’s story shows what is possible when a community works together, from the news story that helped her know where to begin, to local outreach and municipal partners, to CRC’s Rapid Rehousing, case management, Food & Nutrition Center and mental health support, and to the many community supporters who make CRC’s work possible. It also shows Claire’s own persistence, courage and hard work.
“CRC has allowed me to do important, constructive work for my future in a matter of six months. That’s invaluable.”
About the Carlsbad Encampment Resolution Project
In 2025, CRC joined partner nonprofits and the cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad to support unsheltered neighbors along the SR-78/Buena Vista corridor. Through direct outreach, CRC helped individuals and families move from crisis into immediate shelter or housing. With ongoing case management, temporary rent support and wraparound care, CRC continues walking alongside neighbors as they work to regain stability.
