>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

AND COMING UP, DEALING WITH SURVIVOR'S GUILT.

LOCAL COMBAT VETERANS COPE WITH RESURFACED MEMORIES OF WAR, ESPECIALLY NOW AS WE SEE NEWS OUT OF UKRAINE.

>>> GUARANTEED INCOME FOR SAN DIEGANS.

SEE WHO'S BEEN FITTING FROM A BRAND NEW PROGRAM TO HELP LOCAL FAMILIES.

>>> AND A CHANGING COMMUNITY IN NORTH COUNTY.

OCEANSIDE, LONG VIEWED AS AN AFFORDABLE COASTAL CITY NOW FEELING THE PRESSURE OF THE RISING COST OF LIVING.

>>> WE START WITH MORE UKRAINIANS BEING ALLOWED INTO THE U.S.

THE DECISION IS RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT INEQUITIES IN OUR ASYLUM SYSTEM.

GUSTAVO SOLIS TALKED WITH ONE REFUGEE, WHO SAYS PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES SHOULD GET THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

>> SHE DID EVERYTHING FOR ME.

SHE, LIKE, SHE SAVED MY LIFE I THINK.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS NATALIA THANKING HER AUNT FOR HELPING HER GET INTO THE U.S. AFTER A HARROWING YOUR NEECHLT SHE FLELD ON THE FIFTH DAY OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION, FLEW TO MEXICO, AND PLANNED TO CROSS BOARDER TO REUNITE WITH HER FAMILY IN CALIFORNIA.

AT FIRST OFFICIALS AT THE SAN YSIDRO PORT OF ENTRY TOLD HER SHE COULDN'T ENTER.

SHE SLEPT OUTSIDE BEFORE OFFICIALS CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND LET HER AND OTHERS INTO THE COUNTRY.

THOSE SAME OFFICIALS CONTINUED TO TURN AWAY ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

>> THERE WERE TWO MEXICAN GUYS WHO SITTING WITH US FOR LIKE 12 HOURS.

AND OFFICERS FROM U.S. SAYING THEM JUST LIKE WE DON'T HAVE PLACE FOR YOU GUYS.

SORRY.

AND THEY -- AND THERE WAS A LOT OF FAMILIES WHOSE KIDS FROM CUBA, MEXICO, AND OTHER COUNTRIES, AND NOBODY WAS ALLOWED.

>> Reporter: HER AUNT IS GRATEFUL FOR THEIR REUNION BUT IS OUTRAGED.

>> I ALSO CAN'T IMAGINE HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS FOR THE FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT CAUCASIAN AND NOT WHITE BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING LOOKED OVER AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Reporter: THEY BOTH WANT ATTORNEY HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY, TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME JOY OF BEING SAFE AND TOGETHER.

>> I'M GREAT THAFL SHE'S HERE, SHE'S ALIVE, SHE'S SAFE, AND I WANT EVERYONE ELSE TO HAVE THAT.

>> YES, EVERYONE.

EVERYONE DESERVE FOR HELP WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME OR WAR STARTED OR EVERYTHING.

NOBODY NEED TO LIVE ON THE STREET AND WAIT ON SOME GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM.

EVERYONE DESERVE TO BE WITH FAMILIES IN WARM PLACE WITH FOOD AND EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: TITLE 42 HAS BEEN YOUED TO KEEP ASYLUM SEEKERS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED THE ORDER IN MARCH 2020 AND USED THE PANDEMIC AS JUSTIFICATION.

IT GIVE OS OFFICIALS THE AUTHORITY TO TURN AWAY ASYLUM SEEKERS, BUT ALSO THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS.

AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER, MEXICAN, HAITIAN, AND CENTRAL AMERICAN ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE GETTING DIFFERENT TREATMENT.

>> YOU COULDN'T HAVE A STARKER CONTRAST.

>> Reporter: CONSIDER THAT HUNDREDS OF CENTRAL AMERICAN AND MEXICAN ASYLUM SEEKERS SPENT NEARLY TWO YEARS IN A MAKESHIFT MIGRANT CAMP WAITING FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

THAT CAMP WAS CLEARED BY TIJUANA POLICE IN FEBRUARY, LEAVING SOME FAMILIES HOMELESS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.

IT'S RACIST POLICIES THAT ARE BEING APPLIED TO BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, DIFFERENT THAN BEING APPLIED TO OTHERS.

>> Reporter: GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HAVE A WARNING ABOUT OUR NEXT TWO STORIES, BOTH OF WHICH INCLUDE THE TOPIC OF SUICIDE.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER STEVE WALSH TELLS US ABOUT ONE LOCAL VETERAN'S STRUGGLE WITH SURVIVOR'S GUILT AND HOW THE IMAGES OUT OF UKRAINE MIGHT BE AFFECTING OTHERS.

>> Reporter: NICK WAS REACHING OUT TO HELP OTHER VETERANS.

LAST JULY HE DESCRIBED FOR ME A HELICOPTER CRASH HE NARROWLY SURVIVED 15 YEARS AGO AND ITS LASTING IMPACT.

THE CRASH KILLED TEN IN AFGHANISTAN, INCLUDING JUSTIN.

>> THE DAMAGE THAT COMES FROM THIS STUFF IS UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU KNOW, NONE OF THESE FAMILIES ARE EVER GOING TO BE THE SAME.

>> Reporter: HE QUESTIONED WHY THE WAR DRAG ON SO LONG.

APPEARING ON A VIRTUAL PANEL IN SEPTEMBER, HE SOUNDED WEARY WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW HE WAS DOING.

>> IT'S BEEN PRETTY TOUGH TO WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE.

HAVING SO MANY FRIENDS THAT DIES AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS WOUNDED AND TONS OF FRIENDS WERE WOUNDED.

YOU KIND OF QUESTION WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.

>> Reporter: IN FEBRUARY, MONTHS AFTER MOST OF US TURNED AWAY FROM THE DAILY IMAGES COMING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, HE KILLED HIMSELF.

AFTER THE WAR ENDED, HIS BROTHER ANTHONY SAYS HE FIX SATED ON THE IDEA THAT HIS FRIENDS' SACRIFICE WAS MEANINGLESS.

>> HE JUST IMMERSED HIMSELF INTO NEWS ARTICLES, YOUTUBE, NEWS STATIONS ON TV.

IT WAS -- IT WAS PRETTY ROUGH.

THE EASIEST WAY I COULD DESCRIBE IT WAS HE WAS A DRUG ADDICT.

THAT NEWS FRONT WAS HIS DRUG.

>> Reporter: ANTHONY SAYS NICK WAS GETTING COUNSELING AT THE LOCAL VA AND WORKING WITH VETERANS GROUPS NEAR HIS HOME IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

OCCASIONALLY HE WOULD OPEN UP TO HIS BROTHER, BUT HE DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING.

SONIA NORMAL IS WITH THE SAN DIEGO VA AND THE VA NATIONAL CENTER FOR PTSD.

>> EVEN IF IT'S JUST I DIDN'T DESERVE TO SURVIVE.

WHO AM I WHEN THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES, WERE DOING OTHER THINGS.

>> Reporter: SHE NEVER MET HIM, BUT SHE SAYS SURVIVORS' GUILT IS STRONGLY LINKED TO PTSD.

IT CAN COME UP YEARS LATER AS A PERSON'S VIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED CHANGES.

AND THE GUILT GETS IN THE WAY OF TREATMENT.

>> WITH THIS I DON'T DESERVE TO FEEL BETTER AND I DON'T DESERVE GOOD THINGS AND KIND OF THAT SELF-DESTRUCTIVE PIECE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW IT CAN BE THIS, YOU KNOW -- BE INVOLVED IN THIS DOWNWARD SLIDE TOWARDS SUICIDE.

>> Reporter: DWAYNE IS A COMBAT VET WHO IS ALSO A THERAPIST WHO COUNCILS VETERANS.

SOME OF HIS PATIENTS WERE DISTRESSED LAST SUMMER, BUT IMAGES COMING OUT OF UKRAINE CAN ALSO TRIGGER PAST TRAUMA.

YOU CAN'T TELL WHEN THAT DISTRESS MAY LEAD DOWN THE PATH TO SUICIDE.

>> DOZENS OF THINGS HAVE TO GO WRONG, BUT MAYBE ONLY ONE THING NEEDS TO GO RIGHT, ONE THING CAN BE DIFFERENT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT MAY KEEP SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS FROM GETTING INTO A SUICIDAL CRISIS.

>> Reporter: KEEPING CONNECTED, SEEKING COUNSELING.

OVERALL, THE NUMBER OF VETERAN SUE SIDES ARE DECLINING.

VETERANS MAKE UP 7% OF THE POPULATION BUT ACCOUNT FOR 20% OF SUICIDES.

IT WASN'T A FACTOR IN THIS DEATH, BUT A MAJORITY OF VETERAN SUICIDES INVOLVE FIREARMS, SO ASKING A FRIEND TO HOLD A FIREARM OR KEEPING THEIR GUNS UNDER LOCK.

THE VA AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WILL PROVIDE FREE TRIGGER LOCKS.

IT CAN BE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR A VETERAN TO RECONSIDER.

>> YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH THEM, TO BE THERE WITH THEM WHEN THEY NEED YOU THE MOST.

>> Reporter: ROSS IS A RETIRED CAPTAIN.

HE SERVED TWO TOURS IN AFGHANISTAN WITH THE TENTH MOUNTAIN DIVISION.

NICK IS THE FOURTH SUICIDE AMONG THOSE HE SERVED WITH.

ROSS ALWAYS FEELS LIKE HE NEEDS TO DO MORE TO KEEP IN CONTACT.

>> THE FACEBOOK I'M HERE FOR YOU BUDDY KIND OF MESSAGE OR COPY AND PASTE THIS IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING OUT FOR A VETERAN, THAT'S FINE.

I'M SURE IT'S WELL INTENDED, BUT I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW THE ANSWER HERE, HOW DO WE STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> Reporter: HE ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION.

YOU JUST NEED TO KEEP REACHING OUT.

STEVE WALSH, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO IS CLOSE TO GETTING MORE HELP FOR LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO HAVE DEALT WITH SO MUCH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MATT HOFFMAN TELLS US ABOUT A RECENTLY PASSED BILL THAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Reporter: HEALTHCARE WORKERS VVEN THROUGH A LOT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC.

DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PROTECTION ACT HAS PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, THE MEASURE AIMS TO PROVIDE MILLIONS IN FUNDING TO CREATE OR BEEF UP EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

>> IT'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S AN ISSUE.

THE REST OF THE COUNTRY'S AWARE OF IT NOW.

>> Reporter: PAUL KELSLY A SHARP SAN DIEGO NURSE WHO ALSO ACTS AS A UNION REPRESENTATIVE FOR HUNDREDS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

HE SAYS STAFF HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNDER PRESSURE, BUT THE PANDEMIC MADE IT WORSE.

>> AND THE SIGNS THAT I SEE ARE A LOT OF NURSES ARE LEAVING.

A LOT OF NURSES ARE COMPLAINING OF BURNOUT.

>> Reporter: STAFFING SHORTAGES MEANS NURSES HAVE HAD TO PUT IN OVERTIME.

KELLY WAS PICKING UP EXTRA SHIFTS HIMSELF BUT NOTICED THAT IT TOOK A TOLL.

>> IT CREEPS UP ON YOU.

I'M DOING FINE, I CAN HANDLE THIS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY'S COMPLAINING, THEN YOU START GETTING ANGRY ABOUT THINGS YOU NEVER GOT ANGRY ABOUT BEFORE.

>> Reporter: THE ACT WAS NAMED AFTER NEW YORK CITY DOCTOR LORNA BREEN, WORKING ALMOST NONSTOP DURING COVID SURGES, SHE BECAME OVERWHELMED.

>> DR. BREEN'S FAMILY HAS REPORTED PUBLICLY THEY THINK HER FEAR OF RRTING SHE HAD A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN TO THE BOARD OF MEDICINE PREVENTED HER FROM GETTING THE TREATMENT SHE NEEDED AND LED TO HER DEATH BY SUICIDE.

>> Reporter: SCIENTIST JUDY DAVIDSON HAS BEEN STUDYING SUICIDES AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THERE'S A STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH THAT HAS TO BE REMOVED.

DAVIDSON SAYS THE REPORTING PROCESS MUST BE KEPT PRIVATE.

IN 2016 UCSD EXPANDED A CONFIDENTIAL SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM TO ALL THEIR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

>> AND LO AND BEHOLD, IT WORKED.

AFTER WE LAUNCHED THAT EDUCATION, WE HAD A GROUP OF EMPLOYEE THAT IS REPORTED THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE AT RISK, AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THEM INTO TREATMENT BEFORE THEY HAD TO LOSE THEIR JOB OR LICENSE.

>> Reporter: PROGRAMS LIKE THAT ARE EXACTLY WHAT THIS LEGISLATION TARGETS.

>> YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE LEAVING HEALTHCARE BECAUSE IT STRESSED THEM OUT AND THEY HAD NOWHERE TO GO.

SO THE MORE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE FOR MENTAL HEALTHCARE IS ALWAYS BETTER.

>> Reporter: DAVIDSON SAYS HER RESEARCH SHOWS NURSES ARE AT A HIGHER RISK OF SUICIDE COMPARED TO THE GENERAL POPULATION, AND THE MOST COMMON REASON IS DUE TO THE FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOB OR MEDICAL LICENSE.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST READ STORY THIS IS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CRITICIZED AFTER A WOMAN IS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE BEING SERVED EVICTION PAPERS.

THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL IS MAKING MOVES THAT MIGHT CHARGE HOMEOWNERS FOR TRASH SERVICE.

>>> AND HOW MUCH OFFICE SPACE DO CITY WORKERS REALLY NEED.

THE CITY REEVALUATES IN LIGHT OF THE TROUBLED ASH STREET DEAL.

>>> THE PANDEMIC CHANGED A LOT OF VIEWS ON THE BENEFITS OF REMOTE WORK.

I TALKED WITH PEOPLE AT A LOCAL STAFFING AGENTSY TO SEE HOW LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC ARE BEING APPLIED AT THEIR OFFICE AND IN THE WORK FORCE AT LARGE.

SFLSH IT'S UL IN THE NAME, MANPOWER, AND THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE IN BANKERS HILL IS SEEING MORE PEOPLE POWER THAN IT HAS IN THE LAST TWO PANDEMIC YEARS.

UNTIL RECENTLY A MAJORITY OF THE STAFF HAS WORKED ON A HYBRID OR REMOTE WORK MODEL.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER PHIL BLAIR SAYS THE COMPANY IS STARTING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT CAN BE APPLIED POSTPANDEMIC.

>> THE PANDEMIC IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE.

THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF IT, WE CAN WORK REMOTE TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK.

WE CAN HAVE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES.

>> Reporter: AUTHOR OF A BIWEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE DO UNION TRIBUNE, BLAIR WRITES ABOUT WORK FORCE TRENDS AND CORPORATE CULTURE.

HE SAYS SINCE NEAR A CANDIDATE'S MARKET, IT WOULD BEHOOVE A COMPANY TO STRIKE A REASONABLE BALANCE FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.

>> I THINK ANY COMPANY THAT SAYS EVERY EMPLOYEE HAS TO BE IN HERE 8:00 TO 5:00 MONDAY TO FRIDAY IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING THEIR EMPLOYEES AND ATTRACTING NEW ONES, BECAUSE WE HAVE -- WE'VE SEEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

>> Reporter: FOR MANPOWER STAFFING, BLAIR SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO OFFER A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO BE FLEXIBLE TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF THE COMPANY.

FOR THEIR CULTURE, THAT DOES INCLUDE SOME FACE-TO-FACE TIME.

>> IN OUR CASE, WHAT WE'RE THINKING IS WEDNESDAYS.

THAT ON WEDNESDAYS WE ASK EVERYONE TO BE IN THE OFFICE.

SO ACCOUNTING CAN TALK TO MARKETING, MARKETING CAN TALK TO PAYROLL, AND FOOD IS A GREAT ATTRACTION.

>> Reporter: JUST PAST A SET OF SWINGING RESTAURANT-STYLE DOORS, THE OFFICE KITCHEN IS FURNISHED WITH THE COMFORTS OF HOME, LIKE ARMCHAIRS, FREE SNACKS, AND A COZY FIREPLACE.

>> EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE WORK REMOTE, FRIDAYS THEY COME IN FOR THE FOOD.

>> Reporter: OFFICE MANAGER COLETTE CHOSE COLORFUL DETAILS.

>> I LOVE TO MAKE DESSERTS.

>> DO YOU GET TO WORK FROM HOME TOO?

>> NO, I DON'T.

>> DO YOU WISH THAT YOU DID?

>> SOMETIMES.

>> SHE ALSO MANAGES THE BUILDING, WHICH MEANS HER JOB REQUIRES HER TO BE ON SITE.

>> I WAS HERE EVERY DAY DURING COVID, SO I HAVE NEVER WORKED FROM HOME.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS BEING ONE OF THE VERY FEW EMPLOYEES IN THE OFFICE MEANT FEWER INTERRUPTIONS AND MORE PRODUCTIVITY.

AR SPECIALIST JOANNA WALLS SAYS FEWER INTERRUPTIONS IS WHY SHE PREFERS WORKING AWAY FROM THE OFFICE.

>> IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WORKING AT HOME OR IN AN OFFICE PERMANENTLY, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

>> HOME.

>> Reporter: THIS IS HER SECOND DAY AT MANPOWER.

HER LAST JOB REQUIRED HER TO WORK FROM HOME FULL TIME.

AT MANPOWER SHE'LL BE DRIVING IN FROM OCEANSIDE TWO DAYS PER WEEK, WHICH SHE THINKS STRIKE AS GOOD BALANCE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING DRIVE TIME AND THE PRICE OF GAS.

SHE SAYS PREPARING FOR WORK AND COMMUTING BOTH WAYS CAN TAKE FOUR HOURS PER DAY ON TOP OF HER REGULAR EIGHT HOURS OF WORK.

>> IF THE COMPANY IS SUPPORTING THAT AND THEN IT ALSO SAVES COSTS AS WELL FOR THEM AND FOR YOU, I THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN.

>> WHY WOULD YOU GO IN EVERY DAY?

WELL, BOSS, WHY?

WELL, THAT'S HOW I'VE DONE IT FOR 20 OR 30 YEARS.

>> Reporter: WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE ASKED TO COME IN, PHIL BLAIR SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE A REASON FOR IT AND NOT JUST BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THINGS WERE DONE PREPANDEMIC.

>> AND THEN USE THAT TIME TOGETHER PRODUCTIVELY.

EVERYBODY GOES INTO THE CUBICLE, CLOSES THE DOOR, COMES OUT AT 5:00, 5:0, THAT'S NOT REASONABLE.

>> Reporter: AND FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN NURTURING THE CORPORATE CULTURE AND MAINTAINING WORK-LIFE BALANCE COULD BE DELICATE, BUT SOMETHING BLAIR SAYS IS WORTH EXPLORING.

>> ARE THEY DOING A GOOD JOB, ARE THEY DOING THE WORK, IS THERE GOOD COMMUNICATIONS, OKAY, TAKE A BREATH AND TRY IT.

OR YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT EMPLOYEE.

BECAUSE THEY WILL FIND AN OPPORTUNITY OF A COMPANY THAT WILL DO IT.

>> Reporter: IN A JOB MARKET THAT BOASTS MORE JOBS THAN WORKERS, THE CHOICE BETWEEN PRIORITIZING CAREER OVER FAMILY HAS BECOME A LESS NECESSARY ONE.

>> AND IN THIS MARKET, EYES WIDE OPEN, THERE IS LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> GLOBAL WORKPLACE ANALYTICS HAS ESTIMATED COMPANIES CAN SAVE ABOUT $11,000 PER YEAR PER REMOTE EMPLOYEE.

AND THE SAVINGS COMES FROM LESS OFFICE SPACE, MORE PRODUCTIVITY, AS WELL AS REDUCED SICK DAYS AND LESS TURNOVER.

>>> SAN DIEGO'S FIRST EVER GUARANTEED INCOME PROJECT IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY WITH FAMILIES GETTING THEIR FIRST CHECK THIS IS WEEK.

KPBS RACE AND EQUITY REPORTER CRISTINA KIM HAS MORE ON THE SAN DIEGO FOR EVERY CHILD PILOT PROJECT.

>> Reporter: 150 HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS DO COUNTY ARE GETTING A CHECK FOR $500 AS PART OF SAN DIEGO'S FIRST GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM.

>> I AM SUMER EXCITED TO SEE FAMILIES ACTUALLY GET THE MONEY THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AND US TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM IN THIS WAY.

>> Reporter: POLLARD IS THE DIRECTOR OF SAN DIEGO FOR EVERY CHILD.

SHE'S BEEN SIGNING UP FAMILIES FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND HAS HEARD FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THEM.

>> I'VE HEARD FAMILIES SAY THINGS LIKE I WANT TO USE THIS TO PAY FOR MY FAMILY'S MEDICAL BILLS.

I WANT TO FIND CHILD CARE FOR MY SON, DAUGHTER.

I WANT TO USE THIS MONEY TO SAVE.

ONE FAMILY WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT HOW SHE'LL USE THIS MONEY TO TAKE HER CHILDREN OUT.

YOU KNOW, TO HAVE FUN AND DO SOME BONDING STUFF.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: THE $2.9 MILLION PILOT PROGRAM IS MANAGED BIJOU WISH FAMILY SERVICES AND WILL RUN FOR TWO YEARS WITH THE FAMILIES RECEIVING $500 A MONTH.

TO QUALIFY, FAMILIES HAD TO HAVE A CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS OLD AND LIVE IN ONE OF THE FOUR PRIORITY NEIGHBORHOODS, ENCANTO, PARADISE HILLS, SAN YSIDRO, AND NATIONAL CITY.

THE MONEY COMES WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED, SAYS POLLARD.

>> YOU ARE DESERVING OF SUPPORT BECAUSE YOU ARE IN NEED OF SUPPORT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO BOTH ACCESS IT, YOU KNOW, LIMITING THE HURDLES AND THE BUREAUCRATIC CONFERSES ABOUT DESERVING THIS AND WORTHINESS AND SAY YOU KNOW HOW TO BEST USE THE MONEY TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY IN THE WAYS THAT THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: POLLARD SAYS WHILE THE CONCEPT MAY BE NEW TO MANY, IT'S ROOTED IN THE 1960s CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., THE BLACK PANTHER, AND BLACK WOMEN ORGANIZERS ADVOCATING FOR THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA.. >> FOR ME WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS WORK AND THE ORIGINS AND HOW IT GAINED TRACTION AND HAVING IT BEING ROOTED IN BLACK LIBERATION IS JUST SO POWERFUL.

AND KWHEJ YOU SEE THAT AND THE WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN LIBERATE ALL PEOPLE, IT'S EVEN MORE POWERFUL SGLSHGS ONCE THE TWO-YEAR PILOT IS COMPLETE, RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA WILL EVALUATE THE PROGRAM TO SEE WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T.

KPBS WILL BE CHECKING IN AND BRINGING YOU STORIES ABOUT THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

CRISTINA KIM, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE WAS AT ONE POINT REFERRED TO AS OCEAN SLIME, BUT NOW IT'S QUICKLY BECOMING THE NEXT TOURIST HOT SPOT.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TANYA THORN TAKES A DIVE INTO THE CITY'S HISTORY.

>> Reporter: PICTURES OF LOW RIDERS, DANCERS, AND PORTRAITS OF HOMELESS MAKE UP AN EXHIBIT AT THE OCEANSIDE MUSEUM OF ART.

>> THIS IS OCEANSIDE IN A NUTSHELL BASICALLY.

>> Reporter: THE CHIBT IS CALLED OCEANSIDE UNFILTERED, AND ZACH IS CURATOR.

>> THIS SHOW REALLY SHOWS HOW THERE'S LAYERS IN OUR CITY THAT FORM WHAT WE ARE.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SURFING.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PIERS, YOU KNOW.

IT'S ALL THE DIFFERENT FABRICS OF THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO WEAVE WHAT OCEANSIDE IS, WHICH IS THIS MULTICULTURAL MELTING POT.

>> Reporter: HE'S A PHOTOGRAPHER AND PUBLISHER FOR THE OLD SIDER AND ENSA KNEES THAT MAGAZINES.

THERE ARE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE NEIGHBORING CITIES.

>> THE MAIN DIFFERENCES ARE THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, THE ETHNIC DIFFERENCES, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF WHITE PEOPLE SOUTH OF HERE.

AND THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS.

>> Reporter: THE CITY IS ABOUT 36% HISPANIC OR LATINO, WHILE CARLSBAD AND ENCINITAS ARE EACH 14th, ACCORDING TO CENSUS DATA.

HE SAYS THE DIFFERENCES AREN'T JUST ETHNIC.

>> OCEANSIDE, I THINK, FOR THE LONGEST TIME HAS HAD THE STEREOTYPE THAT IT'S A ROUGH CITY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S GANGS, THERE'S HOMELESS, PROSTITUTION, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

>> Reporter: BUT HOW DID OCEANSIDE GET THAT ROUGH STEREOTYPE?

CHRISTY HAWTHORNE IS WITH THE OCEANSIDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

>> WITH A NAME LIKE OCEANSIDE, SAYS IT ALL.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1883 BY ANDREW JACKSON MEYERS, AND HIS SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO BRING PEOPLE TO IT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE REASON OCEANSIDE STAYED CHEAPER ACTUALLY HAS TO DO WITH MALLS.

IN THE '60s, THE INTRODUCTION OF MALLS CHANGED DOWNTOWN USA AND REMOVED STORES FROM OCEANSIDE'S DOWNTOWN.

>> SO WHEN OUR DOWNTOWN CHANGED AND ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT STORES, SHOE STORE, CLOTHING STORES, THEY ALL WENT TO THE MALL, WHAT WAS LEFT IN OCEANSIDE, NOTHING.

WE HAD A LOT OF VACANCIES.

>> Reporter: VACANT STORE FRONTS AND LOTS TOOK OVER.

AND OCEANSIDE BECAME KNOWN AS OCEAN SLIME.

>> WE WERE ONCE THIS MECCA OF, YOU KNOW, SHOPPING AND CAR BUYING WITH A HIGH, YOU KNOW, TAX REVENUE TO USED CAR LOTS, SURPLUS STORES, AND EMPTY VACANCIES.

>> Reporter: BUT THAT ALSO MADE OCEANSIDE CHEAPER, A PLACE WHERE A BLUE COL AR WORKING FAMILY COULD AFFORD A HOME NEAR THE BEACH.

TEN YEARS AGO THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A HOME IN OCEANSIDE WAS $313,000.

WHILE THE AVERAGE PRICE IN CARLSBAD WAS $559,000.

AND $790,000 IN ENCINITAS.

BUT NOW OCEANSIDE'S REAL ESTATE PRICES ARE SPIKING.

THEY'VE ALMOST TRIPLED IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.

THAT'S MUCH FASTER GROWTH THAN IN OTHER NEARBY CITIES.

OCEANSIDE'S NICKNAME OCEAN SLIME IS FADING AWAY.

AND HAWTHORNE SAYS IT'S SHOWING SIGNS IT WILL LIVE UP TO ITS ORIGINAL POTENTIAL AS A RESORT CITY.

>> IN 1887 WE ACTUALLY GOT A RESORT HOTEL.

IT WAS CALLED THE SOUTH PACIFIC HOTEL.

IT WAS A FOUR-STORY HOTEL THAT WAS RIGHT ON THE BLUFF ABOUT WHERE THE CURRENT WYNDHAM PROPERTY IS NOW.

AND IT WAS BUILT SOLELY TO ATTRACT NEW LAND BUYERS, VISITORS, AND VACATIONERS.

>> I THINK WITHIN THE LAST TEN YEARS THINGS HAVE REALLY CHANGED A LOT FOR THE -- IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: ZACH WITH THE MAGAZINES WILL CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT THOSE CHANGES.

THOUGH HE SAYS THE CHANGES COULD HURT SOME COMMUNITIES.

>> THERE'LL BE POCKETS LIKE THAT, I THINK, THAT CAN WEATHER THE STORM, BUT I THINK OVERALL ALL THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS OF OCEANSIDE, PRICES ARE GOING TO GO UP, AND LOCALS ARE GOING TO GET SQUEEZED OUT.

IT'S JUST, IT'S A FACT, AND IT'S SAD.

>> Reporter: TANYA THORN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AND FINALLY ON THE SHOW, WE TAKE A TRIP TO SCRIPPS RANCH, WHERE THE LAKE MIRAMAR RESERVOIR HAS PLENTY OF NEW FISH.

M.G.

PEREZ TAGGED ALONG WITH SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS ON A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> OH MY GOSH.

>> Reporter: THE EXCITEMENT IS OVERWHELMING.

>> MAYBE ONE OF YOU CARRY THE PENCILS AND THE PAPER.

YOU CAN CARRY THE FISH.

>> Reporter: THE SECOND GRADE STUDENTS FROM HIGH TECH ELEMENTARY MESA ARE SPENDING THEIR FINAL MOMENTS WITH THE YOUNG RAINBOW TROUT THEY HAVE STUDIED AND HELPED RAISE.

STEPHANIE LANCE IS THE SCIENCE TEACHER WHO LED THE LEARNING ABOUT A TROUT'S LIFE CYCLE.

>> IT'S TANGIBLE.

IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

THEY GET TO WATCH THEM HATCH FROM EGGS INTO FRY.

THEY WATCH THE WHOLE PROCESS.

>> Reporter: ALVIN AND FRY ARE NAMES GIVEN THESE YOUNG TROUT AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR FEW FEW WEEKS ALIVE.

>> CAN WE RELEASE THEM NOW?

>> Reporter: THE FISH OUTGREW THE CLASSROOM AQUARIUM BACK AT SCHOOL IN CLAREMONT AND LIVE IN THE LAKE MIRAMAR RESERVOIR AFTER EACH WAS GIVING A SPECIAL BLESSING.

>> SO EVERYONE CAN SAY THEIR FISH WISH.

READY, GO.

>> I HOPE -- >> I WISH -- >> Reporter: THE TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM IS MORE THAN JUST FUN.

STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE ESCONDIDO CREEK CONSERVANCY, COMMITTED TO CONSERVING WILDLIFE AND HABITATS ALONG THE 26-MILE ES CAN DEE DOE CREEK WATERSHED.

IT STARTS AT LAKE WOLFORD AND ON TOWARD THE OCEAN, SPILLING OUT INTO THE SAN ALEE HOE LAGOON.

THERE ARE NO MORE RAINBOW TROUT ALONG THE WATERSHED AS THEIR HABITAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY HUMANS.

THESE 7-YEAR-OLDS WORKED TOGETHER TO RAISE THEIR BABY TROUT.

>> WE CAME UP WITH TWO NAMES, BUT THEN WE FOUND A WAY TO KIND OF COMBINE IT TO MAKE ONE NAME.

>> Reporter: JOE AND GODZILLA PROBABLY?

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND IT BECAME?

>> JOE-ZILLA.

>> Reporter: STUDENTS HAVE HAD CUSTODY OF THEIR YOUNG RAINBOW TROUT SINCE JANUARY, AND LIKE IN REAL LIFE, BEING A PARENT ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.

8-YEAR-OLD CRUZ MARTIN SAID HIS FISH WISH FOR SPOT AND LET HIM GO.

>> I'M HAPPY BECAUSE HE'S OUT THERE, AND I'M SAD BECAUSE I LIKED RAISING HIM.

>> AS THEY GET OLDER AND THEY BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORLD THAT IS AROUND THEM, THEY'RE AWARE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE ACTION TO SEE TROUT MAKE A RETURN.

>> Reporter: AS FOR JOE-ZILLA AND HIS FELLOW FISH -- >> I SEE IT.

I SEE JOE-ZILLA.

>> Reporter: -- TONIGHT THEY ARE HOME AND ON THEIR WAY TO A NEW LIFE IN THE LAKE.

M.G.

PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>> AND WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK OF KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.