In the News

New homeless prevention funding allows more seniors to remain stably housed and calls for public investment in proven homelessness prevention efforts

SAN DIEGO, CA – [June 16, 2025] – The Lucky Duck Foundation today announced an expansion of its Seniors Safe at Home program, thanks to a $100,000 investment from the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, which the Lucky Duck Foundation will match.

This new partnership will expand current programs implemented by Serving Seniors and the San Diego Housing Commission, which will allow more at-risk seniors across San Diego to remain housed and gain access to employment opportunities that prevent them from falling into homelessness.

In addition to the $200,000 investment to expand the program, the Lucky Duck Foundation is committing an additional $500,000 to extend the program to ensure seniors who are at-risk of homelessness can stay safely housed well into the future. 

“This additional support from the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation strengthens our ability to protect San Diego’s most vulnerable seniors,” said Drew Moser, CEO of the Lucky Duck Foundation. “It also underscores that preventing homelessness before it begins is not only more humane, but also more cost-effective.”

Launched with an initial $500,000 investment from the Lucky Duck Foundation in September 2023, Seniors Safe at Home is implemented in collaboration with Serving Seniors and the San Diego Housing Commission. The program provides shallow rental subsidies, case management, and employment navigation to help seniors stay securely housed.

According to data from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, adults aged 55 and older make up nearly 30% of San Diego County’s unsheltered homeless population, with nearly half falling into homelessness for the first time in their life due almost purely to economic circumstances. Rising rents, inflation, and stagnant fixed incomes are forcing too many seniors into crisis. With as little as $250 per month, or $3,000 per year, a senior can be kept safely housed, compared to $40,000 annually in public costs for an unsheltered individual.

"This is about investing in dignity, prevention, and impact,” said Ben Moraga, CEO of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. “We are proud to join this effort and hope others—especially in government—will recognize the urgency and affordability of funding and expanding programs like this.”

“Homelessness prevention efforts like Seniors Safe at Home are cost-effective solutions that enable households to avoid the trauma of losing a home,” SDHC President and CEO Lisa Jones said. “This program shows the positive impact that can be accomplished when philanthropy, community organizations and government agencies collaborate. The City of San Diego has increased its investment in other prevention programs like this, and we encourage other jurisdictions and the state to take similar actions.”

Call to Action for Funding Reallocations

While philanthropy has enabled this expansion, the Lucky Duck Foundation, Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, Serving Seniors and the San Diego Housing Commission are calling on local and state governments to reallocate existing budget funds toward proven, scalable, homelessness prevention strategies like Seniors Safe at Home.

“We need a shift in how we address homelessness, starting with keeping older adults housed,” said Melinda Forstey, President and CEO of Serving Seniors. “We ask  policymakers to look at the return on investment and prioritize spending for proven, cost-saving approaches.”

Call to Action for the Public

The two foundations are also strongly encouraging the public to financially adopt a senior through Seniors Safe at Home by donating $250 per month, or $3,000 per year, to keep a senior safely housed. The effort is made possible in part by Lucky Duck Foundation Executive Committee member Tom Mulvaney and his wife Karen, whose $100,000 donation allows the Lucky Duck Foundation to match Rancho Santa Fe Foundation’s $100,000 commitment.

“Karen and I believe strongly in homelessness prevention and the results of this program are self-evident,” said Tom Mulvaney. “This is a great use of philanthropic dollars and as a result we gladly encourage the public to support this initiative by adopting a senior.”

The public can learn more and adopt a senior at https://luckyduckfoundation.org/SeniorsSafeAtHome.

# # #

ABOUT THE LUCKY DUCK FOUNDATION

The mission of the Lucky Duck Foundation is to prevent and alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County. Since 2005, The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) has raised funds and awareness for numerous charitable causes throughout San Diego. In 2017, due to the growing homelessness epidemic, LDF pivoted to focus on providing aid and relief for individuals and families suffering from homelessness. Since then, LDF and its co-founders, Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny, have funded, activated, and led several high-impact programs that alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County, including bridge shelters, employment and job training, research, permanent supportive housing, outreach, and more. Originally called the AGIA Foundation (Arrowhead General Insurance Agency), the name was changed to the Lucky Duck Foundation to honor the Kilkenny family's Irish heritage and as a nod to their love of the University of Oregon. The premise is simple: if you have had some good luck and fortune in your life, share your luck with those less fortunate. And, all donations are matched by Pat & Stephanie, up to $1.5 million per year.

Follow the Lucky Duck Foundation on social: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| LinkedIn

ABOUT THE RANCHO SANTA FE FOUNDATION

Rancho Santa Fe Foundation (RSFF) is a San Diego-based community foundation that partners with individuals, families, and organizations to turn philanthropic aspirations into meaningful action. Since 1981, RSFF has supported donors in making thoughtful, impactful investments—locally and beyond—while helping nonprofit organizations grow, adapt, and thrive. The Foundation offers a full suite of philanthropic services—including donor-advised funds, strategic consulting, philanthropic education, endowment planning, and investment management—designed to help donors and partners achieve their philanthropic goals with clarity, purpose, and impact. Learn more at www.rsffoundation.org.

ABOUT SERVING SENIORS

Founded in 1970, Serving Seniors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, dedicated to serving low-income adults aged 60 and over. A leader in senior advocacy and programming, Serving Seniors has created an innovative model of comprehensive services including nutritious meals, affordable supportive housing, health and social services and enrichment activities to nearly 11,000 seniors in need. It is the largest provider of no-cost meals to seniors in the county, and one of the only organizations in the nation providing a robust range of services to vulnerable, at-risk older adults.

ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING COMMISSION

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) is an award-winning public housing agency in the City of San Diego that provides innovative housing assistance programs for households with low income or experiencing homelessness. The San Diego City Council, in its role as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego, oversees SDHC. SDHC helps pay rent for approximately 17,000 households with low income annually; is a leader in collaborative efforts to address homelessness, such as the Community Action Plan on Homelessness for the City of San Diego; and creates and preserves affordable rental housing, with more than 25,000 affordable units in service in the City today with SDHC’s participation. 

For media inquiries, contact Brian Hayes: Brian@luckyduckfoundation.org / (858) 472-4260.

# # #