Anthony, 68, knows the first meal he’s going to cook after he moves into Mirasol Meadows, Fallbrook’s newest affordable housing community: a big pot of gumbo he can share with his dog, Jet.
“That would be the best day in a long time,” Anthony said. “This home is a miracle.”
Anthony said making his gumbo will be a special moment – finally having the privacy and kitchen of his own after years of homelessness and housing instability.
Developed by the San Diego Community Housing Corporation, Mirasol Meadows was created for seniors who are increasingly being priced out of San Diego County.
For Anthony, it represents something even more fundamental: the chance to rebuild his life.
Anthony has held many jobs – post office clerk, census taker, Thrifty store manager, office worker for telecommunications companies and travel agent. He was married for several years and has an adopted daughter who lives in Nevada.
His life changed in 1998, when he injured his head in a workplace slip and fall. The injury left him unable to work for several months. This was the first time he became homeless.
For two months, Anthony found himself on the street – sleeping on bus benches and trolley stops. He even pretended to be a commuter and spent several nights sleeping in the lobby of San Diego International Airport.
Then, he was hired by Pacific Bell (now AT&T) and was able to rent a room. Life was more stable until 2021, when he caught long COVID. The illness left him short of breath, constantly fatigued and racked with brain fog. He could no longer work and once again found himself without housing.
“Living on Social Security alone is an impossibility,” Anthony said. “It’s a struggle just keeping gas in the gas tank or having money to go to the doctor or even to buy food.”
For three months in 2022, Anthony started couch surfing with friends, living on the streets, living in motels (when he could afford it) and hiding in rented storage lockers. He also briefly lived in his Nissan Altima – a difficult task since he stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall.
“I had to bend my knees and shift around and try to be as comfortable as possible,” Anthony said. “I was just lucky that nobody messed with me or that the police didn’t arrest me.”
Anthony tried homeless shelters but won’t go back after a fellow occupant threatened him with a gun for not sharing his cigarettes.
Anthony eventually found housing again, this time with four roommates. He was paying $600 a month for a 10-foot-by-10-foot room for himself and Jet.
Space was tight, but it was all he could afford as median home prices in San Diego ticked up to $1 million and residents now need to earn nearly $48 an hour for median rental prices.
In March, Anthony learned his four roommates were ending their lease in August and moving away. Without a shared rent situation, he feared he would be back on the street with his dog.
That’s when he learned he had been chosen to live in Mirasol Meadows.
Anthony said the apartment allows him to remain in the community he loves, keep Jet safe and save on rent. His apartment, which costs $533, spans 518 square feet – a major space upgrade from sharing a single room with his dog and possessions.
As Anthony settles into his new home, he said his new space and the ability to cook will be a transitional moment, making him feel like himself again.
“I want to thank everyone involved in making this community,” Anthony said. “Having this home is a comfort and being here will help me heal mentally and spiritually.”
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