In a scene that has played out a couple of times a week for the past several years, Jeffrey Sitcov approached a young couple sitting on a wall in Ocean Beach on recent Sunday afternoon and made an offer.
“You’re an artist,” he said to the young woman. “If you come for six classes, you get free art supplies.”
The couple was intrigued.
“You can get a violin, or maybe a ukulele or art supplies,” he continued. “It’s great!”
Sitcov is president of Doors of Change, a nonprofit he founded in 2001 as Photocharity — rebranded under its new name in 2013 — to help connect local homeless youth with housing and service.
Tyler De Los Reyes is a formerly homeless teen who got his life on track with the help of Photocharity, a nonprofit that funds programs at the Storefront, the shelter for homeless youth where Tyler got off the streets. He was honored by the Padres Aug. 26 as a Petco Park All-Star of the Month for his excellent customer service skills. He is seen here working in the security booth at Petco Park monitoring cameras that are placed around the stadium for security. (Sean M. Haffey U-T San Diego)
Jacob, one of four residents at the Doors of Change Housing Program for Self-Sufficiency, works on a garden he and other formerly homeless youths planted in the backyard of their home. A church congregation, shown behind him, volunteered to help. (Courtesy Jeffrey Sitcov)
Jeffrey Sitcov, founder of Photocharity, thanks Ellen Stork, 19 for trusting him enough to attend a free music program for homeless youth held at Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach. Stork became homeless in Oregon and is currently hitchhiking her way across the country, hoping to arrive in New Orleans, where she has heard she could find work and cheap housing.