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People Who Are Homeless In East County Get Help During Resource Fair

Angel Gomez with his dog Luna at the Project Homeless Connect East County, April 12, 2019.
Matt Hoffman
Angel Gomez with his dog Luna at the Project Homeless Connect East County, April 12, 2019.

People who are homeless got some assistance Friday during Project Homeless Connect East County. The annual event is hosted by the Crisis House in El Cajon.

There were a number of services offered at the event ranging from programs that help people get into housing, mental health services, and a mobile medical clinic. Clothing was also given out and there were free haircuts.

Angel Gomez was there with his lovable pit bull Luna.

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"What I like about it is the free animal service," Gomez said. "You know she (Luna) got chipped today, she got medicine today, she got her shots today, she got a Padre’s pillow today—it’s things that I couldn’t really afford."

RELATED: San Diego Resource Fair Helps Hundreds Of People Who Are Homeless

Gomez lives out of his van and said Luna helps keep his spirits up.

"You know man, God keeps me happy—God and Luna," Gomez said laughing. "I’ve had my good times, my good days, my good jobs and then all of the sudden things go down. Life’s like a roller coaster that’s how I like to put it."

Gomez said he does not want to enter supportive housing unless his dog can come with him.

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"We’re comfortable in the van," he said. "You know we’ve got a mattress in there. You know it’s comfortable. I’m not going to say it’s not or it’s the best—yeah there are days I go up and down. I get depressed, I get upset, but then I snap out of it and I say, 'Hey let’s go for a walk.'"

Organizers expected to serve a couple of hundred people at Friday’s event.

VIDEO: People Who Are Homeless In East County Get Help During Resource Fair
People Who Are Homeless In East County Get Help During Resource Fair
Project Homeless Connect East County offered programs that help people get into housing, mental health services and a mobile medical clinic. You can hear this story and other local news every morning by subscribing to San Diego News Matters, KPBS’ daily news podcast. Subscribe via iTunes, Google Play or your favorite podcatcher.