Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Times of San Diego
San Diego Rescue Mission Opens National City Homeless Shelter, City’s First
By Debbie L. Sklar,
2024-06-19
The South County Lighthouse is a referral-only, 162-bed shelter providing men, women and families with beds, hot meals, clothing, showers, laundry and wrap-around services. Additionally, people staying at the facility will receive weekly case management to help them locate rehabilitation services and stable housing. Photo via https://www.sdrescue.org/
The San Diego Rescue Mission, city leaders and representatives from the San Diego Padres Wednesday opened the first permanent 30- day homeless emergency shelter in National City.
The South County Lighthouse is a referral-only, 162-bed shelter providing men, women and families with beds, hot meals, clothing, showers, laundry and wrap-around services. Additionally, people staying at the facility will receive weekly case management to help them locate rehabilitation services and stable housing.
“The South County Lighthouse is a beacon of hope for individuals experiencing homelessness and represents a bold solution to South County’s crisis by providing first-class emergency shelter to our communities’ most vulnerable,” said Donnie Dee, president and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission, founded in 1955. “We’re incredibly grateful to our generous donors who have made possible the establishment of our newest shelter in National City to be a guiding light and a pivotal part of the system we are building to change the state of homelessness in San Diego County, one life at a time.”
According to the nonprofit, San Diego Rescue Mission is expanding its footprint countywide, part of an effort to integrate shelters and support services as the homelessness crisis continues unabated.
“I applaud the Rescue Mission for expanding their proven, compassionate approach in addressing homelessness in Oceanside and downtown San Diego and bringing it to South County,” National City Mayor Ron Morrison said. “By meeting people where they are, providing trauma-informed care, and wrap- around services, the Lighthouse will help us get people off the streets immediately so that their homelessness can be ended permanently.”
In 2023, the SDRM helped 1,433 people get off the streets immediately, 314 people end their homelessness permanently, and celebrated a record 127 Mission Academy Residential Program graduates, officials said. That latter program is a long-term recovery program for men, women and single parents with children.
“San Diego needs more emergency shelters like the South County Lighthouse where guests’ immediate needs like food and shelter are met and they are provided with their first step toward ending their homelessness for good,” said Tom Seidler, president of the Padres Foundation. “The Padres players and front office have been long-time supporters of the rescue mission. We are honored to provide funding to this impactful Lighthouse project and committed to continue our support in other areas.”
According to the nonprofit, South County Lighthouse was privately funded and built on eight acres on Euclid Avenue.
“As the San Diego Rescue Mission continues to innovate and grow, the community’s unwavering support and generous contributions will be essential in sustaining these life-changing initiatives,” Dee said. “Together, we can make a lasting difference in the fight against homelessness, one person at a time.”
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0