After decades of working and living in a stable home, a medical emergency turned Allen Douglas’ life upside down.  

The San Diegan survived a brain aneurism, but he lost his job and home in the process.  

“I was in a coma for like three weeks and I woke up and didn't know what was going on,” Allen said. “I ended up losing my job because I wasn't able to drive no more. And that really hurt because I was used to taking care of myself.” 

Homeless, he turned to the San Diego Rescue Mission for help. From there, Allen was connected to resources, and a case manager placed him in a room at the City of San Diego’s Seniors Landing Bridge Shelter, a 33-room non-congregate facility operated by Serving Seniors under a contract administered by the City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department.  

Seniors Landing serves residents 55 and older who’ve been matched with housing resources, such as rapid-rehousing assistance, permanent supportive housing or a housing voucher. 

"At Seniors Landing, they provided shelter, transportation, food and a place that I could lay my head,” Allen said. "It was very nice. The people who were there were good people, and I found good friends. We would sit there and talk and share the situations that we went through and help build each other up.” 

Allen stayed at Seniors Landing for just a few months while he awaited the completion of construction of Jamboree Housing’s Milejo Village, a new affordable housing project that celebrated its grand opening last week. The complex now provides supportive housing for 65 formerly homeless families and seniors, including Allen and other seniors who were staying at the City’s Seniors Landing shelter.  

Milejo Village was developed in partnership with our San Diego Housing Commission and the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency. It includes comprehensive, dedicated onsite supportive services to help ensure the seniors and families living in Milejo Village have the resources they need to be successful and remain stable and secure in their housing. 

“So now this is home,” Allen said, showing off his new one-bedroom apartment at Milejo Village.  

Allen is in school and working toward becoming a drug and alcohol counselor so he can help people at who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless get over their addictions. He’s also volunteering at the San Diego Rescue Mission, because he says he feels like now that he has housing, it’s his turn to help others get on the same path.  

“I want to let other people know the story that I went through and to let them know that everything is going to be okay.”