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 San Diego’s homeless and needy populations.
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 2001 the organization’s commitment to excellence was acknowledged by the state of California when its Men’s Center became only the second licensed drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for the homeless in San Diego County. 3 years later in 2004, San Diego Rescue Mission consolidated all of its rehabilitation programs into the former Harbor View Medical Center at 120 Elm Street, doubling its capacity to help more people than ever.
New programs continued to be developed over the next 10 years to meet clients’ needs like Therapeutic Services, Recuperative Care Unit, Transitional Housing, and the Haven of Hope Preschool. But our work is far from done. Learn more about our programs here and find out how you can help!
