Joan Kroc Center

Since opening its doors in the summer of 1987, the Joan Kroc Center (JKC) has been considered the prototype for agency-based “continuum of care” centers across the nation. The Center was made possible by a challenge grant from Joan and Ray Kroc, of the McDonald’s Restaurants chain. The cost of construction was $11 million. The Joan Kroc Center was the first facility to be built on what would become the St. Vincent de Paul Village campus.

The JKC is located on half a city block in the East Village section of downtown San Diego. This 110,000-square-foot residential facility includes three floors built around a central courtyard and a secure, underground parking garage with room for 125 vehicles. The Center’s signature bell tower is a San Diego icon, ringing daily to notify area neighbors in need that lunch is being served. The bell tower also functions as the building’s air conditioning system: ocean breezes are drawn through the tower to cool the air on the two residential floors.

Joan Kroc Center at a glance

• An average of 313 family members and single women receive transitional housing each night
• Approximately 160 children are housed nightly with their families
• 1,400 daily meals served to residents on average
  Security staff and cameras in public areas provide secure environment 24 hours a day
• Day Center provides showers to non-residents seven days a week
• Residential and commercial laundries, non-denominational chapel, and community meeting