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Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | Hopefully, someone in North San Diego County will be motivated to try and organize a safe, central location where workers can be matched with interested employers. That would be a good first step in addressing the plight of the workers.
Providing decent housing and living conditions will take concerted action also. We have a permanent population of 3,000 or more immigrants in our town, including a number of families, but also a sizeable number of single men. This has resulted in overcrowding of some rental housing units and a crackdown by the town’s code enforcement people on landlords for such violations.
Jupiter’s Neighborhood Resource Center (EL SOL) will be dedicated by the Bishop of the Palm Beach Archdiocese, with clergy from all the various churches in the region invited, as well as the migrant workers.
The town of Jupiter is leasing a building to Catholic Charities for the new center that will include the day labor, or hiring hall, in addition to a range of social services and special programs that Catholic Charities will also offer. My group, Friends of EL SOL, is a volunteer nonprofit organization that will provide volunteers and raise funds for the center.
Thanks again Will for your great articles about the plight of migrant workers in North San Diego County.