ECHO celebrates opening of Balay Ko Family Resource Center

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Aug 20 2026

New 30-bed family shelter marks milestone for organization’s 25 years of service in San Luis Obispo County

ATASCADERO — El Camino Homeless Organization celebrated the opening of its new Balay Ko Family Resource Center on Aug. 13, marking a major milestone in the nonprofit’s efforts to provide shelter and support services to families experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo County.

Hundreds of community members, supporters, and partners gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which also celebrated ECHO’s 25 years of service to the county.

The 7,200-square-foot family resource center adds 30 emergency shelter beds specifically for families with children. The new facility is intended to provide families with a safe and stable place to stay while they work toward permanent housing and greater financial stability.

More than 300 individuals and families are currently on ECHO’s shelter waiting list, making the additional capacity especially significant.

“The amazing family behind The Balay Ko Foundation was the catalyst that inspired our community to come together and believe in what was possible," ECHO President and CEO Wendy Lewis told Atascadero News. "Their vision, generosity, and commitment to families encouraged others to step forward and help make the ECHO Family Wing a reality. We are also deeply grateful to the dedicated people who came together 25 years ago to establish ECHO and to everyone who has contributed their time, resources, and heart to making this Family Wing possible. This ribbon cutting is a celebration of their collective vision—a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together to create a brighter future for families.”

Construction on the project began in October 2025, following a groundbreaking ceremony attended by more than 150 community members. Seventeen modular units arrived at ECHO’s Atascadero campus in March and were assembled on site to form the new facility.

The project was designed by Arris Studio Architects, built by BevyHouse and completed with construction expertise from Specialty Construction Inc.

The center is the centerpiece of ECHO’s $6 million Building Hope & Home Capital Campaign, which is funding both construction and the first three years of operations. More than 90% of the campaign has been funded, according to ECHO, with significant support from the Balay Ko Foundation and other community partners. Fundraising efforts continue as the organization works to complete the campaign.

Inside, the family resource center includes private shelter accommodations, a welcoming lobby, a wellness room where residents can connect with case managers, a children’s room, and a Workforce Development classroom equipped with computers.

The facility also includes family-friendly bathrooms with a bathtub, a water filtration station, and a public laundry facility donated by Idler’s Home. The laundry facility will be available to shelter residents as well as members of the broader community.

ECHO officials said the center was designed around the needs of families, with an emphasis on dignity, stability, and access to services.

The importance of those services was highlighted during the ribbon-cutting ceremony by former ECHO resident Tyra King, who shared her family’s experience with homelessness.

King arrived at ECHO with her partner and three young children while pregnant with her fourth child. She described the experience of homelessness as a period in which her family was focused primarily on day-to-day survival. Now, more than a year after securing permanent housing, King said her children are thriving, her son is preparing to start school, and her family is building new memories in a home of its own.

"Today, our family has been housed for more than a year. My children are thriving. My son is starting school. We're making memories in a home that's ours," King said. "And for the first time in a very long time, I have room to dream. When you're constantly living in survival mode, you don't think about your future. You're thinking about today. Where will we sleep tonight? How will I feed my kids? What happens tomorrow? Dreams don't have room to exist when you're just trying to survive. But now ... I dream. And every day, I'm taking steps toward making those dreams a reality."

Her story reflected the purpose behind the new family wing, ECHO officials said — providing families not only with immediate shelter, but with the support and stability needed to move toward permanent housing.

The Balay Ko Family Resource Center is the latest expansion of ECHO’s efforts to address homelessness in North County. Since 2001, the organization has provided food, shelter, and supportive services to people throughout San Luis Obispo County.

ECHO currently operates shelters in Atascadero and Paso Robles with a combined capacity of 160 beds, along with community dinner and shower programs.

The new family center was made possible through a partnership with the Balay Ko Foundation, which has supported housing and services for families experiencing homelessness throughout California.

As ECHO marks its 25th anniversary, the organization credited donors, volunteers, businesses, foundations, government partners and community members for helping make the new facility possible.

For more information about ECHO, the Building Hope & Home Capital Campaign, or ways to support the organization, visit echoshelter.org