ECHO supporters take the Long Walk Home

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Oct 01 2026

Community walked alongside ECHO staff and volunteers to raise awareness and support local housing services

ATASCADERO — ECHO’s 15th annual Long Walk Home brought community members together Saturday, Sept. 26, for a morning of walking, music, food and awareness in support of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo County.

The annual fundraiser began at ECHO’s Atascadero campus, where participants gathered before walking to Atascadero City Hall and back. Led by the Atascadero High School band, the walk represents the often long and difficult journey people experiencing homelessness face while working toward stability and a place to call home.

“[It] is an awareness walk,” said Stephanie Potter, ECHO’s development manager. “And that walk really represents that long walk home for so many people that are experiencing homelessness and everything that they’re going through.”

Before participants set out, a former ECHO resident shared a poem with the crowd, helping set the tone for the event and highlighting the experiences of those ECHO serves.

The Atascadero High School band then led participants through the streets to City Hall, where the group gathered for a photo before returning to ECHO. Potter said having the band participate was particularly meaningful after the organization had tried for several years to coordinate the group’s participation.

“We actually had the Atascadero High School band there ... and we were so grateful because it was really special,” Potter said.

Following the walk, participants returned to the ECHO campus for a community celebration featuring a barbecue lunch, live music and other activities. A longtime barbecue team prepared chicken, rice and bread, while ECHO kitchen manager Aaron, who works through the organization’s workforce development program, made several varieties of brownies for attendees.

Live music was provided by Chuck, an ECHO volunteer who regularly performs during dinner service at ECHO’s sites. Families, sponsor groups and community members attended the event, with some participants also bringing their dogs. ECHO’s resident goat, Picasso, also made an appearance.

Potter said the event raised more than $70,000, roughly matching the amount raised the previous year and surpassing ECHO’s $65,000 fundraising goal.

The proceeds will go toward ECHO’s operational funding and programs in Atascadero and Paso Robles. ECHO currently operates 160 emergency beds between its two locations and provides services including comprehensive case management, outreach, emergency shelter, nightly meals, showers, laundry, and workforce development.

“This goes back to our operational funding,” Potter said. “It goes towards all of our programming, our comprehensive case management, our laundry program, our shower program, and any overhead and for operations."

The Long Walk Home was also an opportunity for ECHO to highlight progress made by people who have used its services. Potter said that so far this year, 275 individuals and families have moved into housing through ECHO’s homeless prevention funds, shelter and outreach programs.

That figure includes people who have worked with ECHO’s case managers through its 90-day shelter program as well as individuals reached through street outreach.

The fundraiser comes during a milestone year for ECHO, which is celebrating 25 years of serving San Luis Obispo County. The organization also recently opened the Balay Ko Family Resource Center, expanding its services for families with children experiencing homelessness.

For ECHO, Potter said the Long Walk Home provides an opportunity not only to raise money but also to bring the community closer to the people and programs behind the organization’s mission.

“There is something incredibly powerful about looking around on a day like today and seeing so many different people coming together for one purpose: to walk alongside our neighbors and support the work happening at ECHO every single day,” ECHO said in a social media post following the event.

The organization thanked its sponsors, volunteers, performers, food-service teams, and participants for helping make the 15th annual event possible.

For more information about ECHO and its programs, visit ECHOShelter.org

Feature Image: Community members gather in front of Atascadero City Hall during ECHO’s 15th annual Long Walk Home on Saturday, Sept. 26. The event featured walking, music and food while raising awareness and support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo County. Photo by Mark Winkler Photographer