History

While our programs and services have adapted and evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the men, women and children experiencing homelessness in our city, our focus on faith, integrity compassion and excellence have remained the same throughout the decades.

Our story began in 1954, when a group of San Diego church and business leaders, lead by Arnold Theisen, met to address the growing plight of the community’s homeless and hungry.

With a resolve to meet the growing need, the City Rescue Mission was founded in 1955 and immediately began providing food, clothing, and spiritual guidance to our city’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 people experiencing homelessness 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. During this time, the organization also took a new, innovative approach in seeking long-term solutions to homelessness by the creation of a new program providing education and job training. 

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 Mission created a new overnight emergency shelter for women and children, Nueva Vida Haven, to address the growing population of families in need. Now called the Downtown Navigation Center, this facility continues to serve 60 women and children nightly.

In 2004, the San Diego Rescue Mission had the opportunity to consolidate all its rehabilitation programs under one roof. The former Harbor View Medical Center on 120 Elm Street would become the Mission’s permanent home. This move would more than double its capacity to serve men, women, and children in need. 

It was here at 120 Elm Street, that Mission Academy, our year-long residential program, was born. This program deepened the focus on long-term recovery and rehabilitation by creating a trauma-informed, holistic approach to service. In 2015, a state-licensed, no cost preschool was established to serve children ages 2-5 years old experiencing homelessness. The preschool operated until February, 2023.

In 2020, the Rescue Mission partnered with Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside, officially establishing Bread of Life as our North County Center. Providing emergency services, food and resource navigation until May of 2022, Bread of Life closed to prepare for the opening of our 50-bed Oceanside Navigation Center in late summer. With the vision to impact homelessness county-wide, the Mission is now exploring new opportunities to deepen and expand their efforts throughout the county. 

Today, the San Diego Rescue Mission serves thousands of men, women, and children each year through our no-cost, Christ-centered programs with the goal of keeping people off the streets – permanently. 

Learn more about our programs here and find out how you can help!