photo

Our Community

In the Los Mares Neighborhood, we will need to strengthen the neighborhood's capacity through relationship building but we have identified key resident, youth and older adult leaders who are ready to participate in community building efforts to improve their area.

 

Our People:

Los Mares is primarily a working class, Latino family neighborhood with many parents working at local restaurants, businesses, and corporations such as Wal-Mart and Lowe’s.  According to the 2000 Census, 24% of all households in San Clemente earned less than $25,000 a year and paid more than 30% of their income on housing costs, making it very difficult for the renters to provide for their families, let alone improve their apartments.
 
Los Mares neighborhood has approximately 1050 residents. The age distribution is as follows:
 

Less than 18 years of age
221
(21%) 
Between 19-29 years of age:
137
(13%)
 
Between 30-39 years of age
: 525
(50%)
 
Between 40-49 years of age:
105
(10%)
 
More than 50 years of age
 
63
(6%)

The San Clemente Assessment of Neighborhood Needs conducted by Cal State Fullerton Social Science Research Center reports that the racial /ethnic composition in Los Mares neighborhood is significantly different to other communities in San Clemente. Los Mares includes the highest proportions of Latino (82.8%) and foreign born (92.2%), as well as more foreign born non-Latinos than other neighborhoods. On average, foreign-born residents in this neighborhood have lived in the United States for 14.74 years and all have lived in their present community for an average of 6.13 year. Nine of them speak Spanish at home and rate their ability to speak English significantly lower than residents in other communities of San Clemente. Residents in this neighborhood are the least well educated: with 62.4 reporting less than a high school diploma. Only 4% earned more than $35,000 per year.  The highest average number of other adults in the household (M=2.55) and employed adults (M=2.32), as well as children per household (M=2.17) resides in this neighborhood. Vista Los Mares appears to be a “port of entry” for less acculturated but generally industrious residents of San Clemente.
 
Also, the Neighborhood Needs reported that Vista Los Mares had the lowest proportion of residents reporting an annual income over $35,000 per year resides in Vista Los Mares.
 
Income:
 

Less than $15,000
18%
 
Between 15,000 and 24,999
54%
Between 25,000 and 34,999
24%
Over 35,000
4%

  
Los Mares neighborhood has approximately 1050 residents. The age distribution is as follows:
 

Less than 18 years of age

 
221
(21%) 
Between 19-29 years of age:
137
(13%)
 
Between 30-39 years of age
: 525
(50%)
 
Between 40-49 years of age:
105
(10%)
 
More than 50 years of age
 
63
(6%)

 

The San Clemente Assessment of Neighborhood Needs conducted by Cal State Fullerton Social Science Research Center reports that the racial /ethnic composition in Los Mares neighborhood is significantly different to other communities in San Clemente. Los Mares includes the highest proportions of Latino (82.8%) and foreign born (92.2%), as well as more foreign born non-Latinos than other neighborhoods. On average, foreign-born residents in this neighborhood have lived in the United States for 14.74 years and all have lived in their present community for an average of 6.13 year. Nine of them speak Spanish at home and rate their ability to speak English significantly lower than residents in other communities of San Clemente. Residents in this neighborhood are least well educated: with 62.4 reporting less than a high school diploma. Only 4% earned more than $35,000 per year.  The highest average number of other adults in the household (M=2.55) and employed adults (M=2.32), as well as children per household (M=2.17) resides in this neighborhood. Vista Los Mares appears to be a “port of entry” for les acculturated but generally industrious residents of San Clemente.
 
Also, the Neighborhood Needs reported that Vista Los Mares residents had the lowest proportion reporting an annual income over $35,000 per year in San Clemente.
 
Income:
 

Less than $15,000

 
18%
 
Between 15,000 and 24,999
54%
Between 25,000 and 34,999
24%
Over 35,000
4%

  

 Our Strengths:
 
ASSETS OF IMPORTANCE TO RESIDENTS
 
Adult residents like the neighborhood because it is a small community located very close to jobs, shopping centers, beach, and service organizations as well as to bus stops, police, fire-station, and hospital. They feel good living with similar people to them and get along amongst themselves. In addition, they love the weather and the small town feeling of San Clemente.
 
Youth see togetherness and interaction as prevalent elements in their community and they appreciate having friends, good neighbors, and participating in parties.
 
Seniors think that what makes their community a good place to live is to having friends to whom they can interact with and no gossip and complaints. Older adults like that they live close to the beach and to Pines Park and that the city has great weather. They also feel it is protected and there are many community events.
 
ASSETS OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
 
  • Los Mares neighborhood identified groups are:
  • City of San Clemente
  • Sheriff Department
  • Agewell
  • Marblehead Elementary School
  • Shorecliffs Junior High School
  • Saddleback Memorial Medical Center
  • San Clemente Collaborative
  • Vintage Shores Independent Living
  • Ageless Art
 
Our Challenges:
As we assessed the organizations, we found out that many organizations provide services and programs for the different age groups but they do not integrate an intergenerational approach into their work. Most programs are provided for specific ages groups.
 
Residents identified the following Challenges:
  • Lack of Self Esteem
  • Peer Pressure
  • Lack of Parental Support
  • Lack of Role Models
  • Collaboration and Support
  • Isolation
  • Lack of leaders
They also identified Physical Environment Challenges:
  • Traffic Issues
  • Transportation
  • Supervision for children
  • Park not at walking distance
  • Lack of good restrooms at the park
  • Absentee homeowners
  • Lack of trust to the system
  • Lack of a community pool
 
Additional Challenges residents identified included:
  • No close centers / No local community center
  • Few ESL classes
  • Transportation
  • Language
  • Lack of programs / Activities for people of all ages
  • Communication Systems
  • Safety
  • Programs do not fit participant interests
  • Lack of recreational activities
  • Lack of community clinic
  • Lack of participation limits programs
  • Effective communication
  • Parents are not involved
  • Cost-Benefit of the programs
  • Safety
  • Trust
 
Our Communites for All Ages:
The collaborative agent for the  CFAA Los Mares Initiative is the OC Human Relations with the partnership of the City of San Clemente, Age Well Senior Services, the Sheriffs Department, Marblehead Elementary School, Shorecliffs Middle High School, and local residents of different ages. The major challenge that residents identified in their neighborhood is safety. 
 
Receive updates:
Search the Site: