To see God transform the lives of those experiencing homelessness, impacting San Diego one life at a time.
To lovingly address the needs of men, women and children experiencing homelessness by sharing the Good News of Salvation and providing a holistic approach to rehabilitation and recovery.
Throughout its history, the San Diego Rescue Mission’s programs have adapted to meet the changing needs of the men, women and children experiencing homelessness in our city.
The organization’s story began in 1954, when a group of San Diego church and business leaders met to address the growing plight of the community’s homeless and hungry.
Based on this vision, the City Rescue Mission was founded in 1955 and immediately began providing food, clothing and spiritual guidance to the region’s homeless. In 1958, this soup kitchen expanded its services to include short-term shelter and services for up to 85 men. Two years later the Mission made history by opening the first shelter for women and children in San Diego County.
As city redevelopment efforts intensified in the mid-1980s, the number of homeless grew to a crisis level. Once again, the Mission (now known as the San Diego Rescue Mission) responded by opening a new and much larger facility for men at 1150 J Street in 1985. Around this time the organization also took a new, innovative approach in seeking long-term solutions to homelessness. This was illustrated in 1988, with the creation of a new program providing education and vocational training to residents in its programs.
In 1993, the purchase and renovation of buildings on South 16th Street allowed the San Diego Rescue Mission to open a new Women and Children’s Center. In 2000 the San Diego Rescue Mission created a new overnight emergency shelter for women and children, Nueva Vida Haven.
in 2004, San Diego Rescue Mission consolidated all its rehabilitation programs into the former Harbor View Medical Center at 120 Elm Street, doubling its capacity to help more people than ever. It was there that Mission Academy was born, continuing the focus on holistic, long-term recovery and rehabilitation.
Learn more about our programs here and find out how you can help.
