San Diego Rescue Mission - San Diego, California

Honest C.

Many accusations of racist, bias, insecure, unprofessional staff. I witnessed and experienced a lot of this. A crowded emergency shelter dorm, that had close to a dozen people sick for weeks. There was no health protocol until more than a month after a multitude of residents were sick. Beds were striped when people left but not disinfected. Often no soap in soap dispensers. Bed frames had caked on dirt on them. Disparities in who is helped, and the type of help given. Several people also had food poisoning. A resident was allowed to use a full size bed, to store her belongings. Dorm has cameras. A woman walked around in a tiny white towel, two different days while sweeping, and combing out her hair. An older female staff person made her go put clothes on. There are teenage boys in the dorm. Male staff do not announce that they are entering the dorm area. Several non Hispanic women, who were white, black, and multi raced alleged that they are surprised a certain Mexican female advocate was still allowed to work there, that allegedly she told a disabled person if she continues to complain about medical issues and her rights that she would be exited, that she told a family that a housing program was full, when it wasn't. This staff person hung up the phone on me, when I declined to have an additional useless meeting with her. A lot of times an agenda of shuffling people to various shelters was pushed, even if a better option was in progress. A worker kicked out a mother with three children over something trivial. The woman and her children slept on a nearby bus stop bench. Chores are mandatory or you could get written up. Three write ups and you could get kicked out. I did not have any write ups but The Rescue Mission refused to state that in writing, which could hinder my housing prospects. There was only one staff person in the Emergency Shelter who was fair and consistent with everyone, and always exuded God's love. Many staff did not speak to me, did not say hello, did not say thank you, did not say you're welcome, several were even rude. I rolled my eyes in frustration, but stayed formal in spite of their treatment. A proactive, healthy, trauma informed staff, would know that customer service and salutations are the responsibility of the staff and not the client. Late in the night, two younger staff made a crude remark. I caught one of them sleeping on the job twice. Multiple staff laughed and talked about clients. This behavior includes the Manager. I overheard her tell a staff person, she didn't want to tell me I had a week's extension. I had to inquire twice. They were going to let me exit without telling me. The people who stroked staff egos, got more help, and better treatment. Most staff stand by each other no matter what. Positives about the place are any staff that treat everyone with equal treatment, there is always some portion of edible food, free laundry and supplies, a place to sleep at night, a weekly clothing closet, some great volunteers, a wonderful man at the front desk who said, the place changed his life, and an amazingly kind, just, ray of hope and light, who is the Associate Director of the Mission Academy, Sara!

D B.

Thank you for the opportunity to volunteer and serve. It has become obvious to me that you don't necessarily need me. However the opportunity to serve is saving my life just as much as it might help any of the people who are enrolled in the program. God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Andrea

This was/is a tough review to write. My toughest. They SHOULD AND COULD be everything they purport to be, it's very VERY sad that they have a chance to help and so few staff and administration take it. They denied us opportunities for shelter because they viewed me as a problem. The fact that we aren't on the literal street is amira le thanks only to God
This "faith based" program lies and uses coercion as they see fit, to have people doing what they want.
We ended up sick multiple times because of the unsanitary habits with chores and the bathrooms and total lack of soap for hand washing for 3 days, or the lack of cleaning the showers for people, the lack of cleanliness in the common areas and etc. When we reported illnesses -- as THEY directed, they punished us for being called contagious by Doctors (as they demanded we consult) and needing an isolation room to stop spreading the illness. Other people they denied isolating and let the illness spread through the dorm and didn't care.
There ARE a few staff members that genuinely care about the people at the Mission but MOST of them don't. It saved us from the he literal street for about a month and a half and we sometimes got edible food and it encountered decent or even kind humans. It is what it is. Do the best you can. 🩵

Libby

One of the Oldest, community involved, helpful shelters there is in Americas Finest City! You will not find a more welcoming, loving, god fearing shelter. That focuses on being the foundation for those that WANT to succeed. This shelter compared to other is on of cleanliness, quality care from the floors to the wall and all in between.

Keenan R.

Still never received My stuff.. was threatened with jail..
This place seems to be a CULT just like ECTLC....
However my issue is this..
Which may be something that needs to be investigated by the law or the feds as I'm not the only person that has said this about rescue mission and ECTLC...

My daughter's mother stayed there for a short time then we got moved into a different place together...

ALL of our belongings were returned to us a week or 2 AFTER she moved out. All except for one big hard to miss duffle bag which contained important items such as my laptop, social security, and birth certificate....

Upon my arrival here I had no where to go and a staff member Ms. Samantha allowed me to hold my belongings with my daughters mom so they were safe..
Of which I have text messages and screenshots as proof...

However upon speaking to these staff members I was disrespected, and hung up on and threatened with POLICE..

Makes me feel like they have a ring of criminals working at these organizations and they're preying on the weak and unfortunate.
The people who have nobody or no voice..

If I'm not the only one..
ARE THEY STEALING IDENTITIES...?
My daughter's mother sure had her money stolen from her account and the only people who would have this information would be RESCUE MISSION & ECTLC....

Ralph M.

The fact that this place exists. Is a gift from God... I mean sure it isn't perfect... But you have to consider it a special gift...

Mija J.

My children and I have stayed here! It’s gross the food is moldy, the staff don’t care when others threaten to kill children, use racial slurs against others, staff is too busy at night sleeping on the job to watch out for other’s safety, when I tried to talk to the cook about the pork tasting like fish he said what do you want me to do order fresh meat just for you! Also talked to other staff about poor quality of food was told the demand is higher than what is donated, and they don’t throw the rotten fruits or veggies away they incorporate them in! Also my car was broken into and my kids gifts were stolen on camera and they did nothing about helping us press charges or help with other gifts! Also staff has first dips on Christmas gifts including advocates! This place needs so much help they treat us like criminals instead of people just because we don’t have a voice! No everyone who comes here for help is bad some of us are looking for a hand up not a hand out and get a huge slap in the face instead please help those of us who don’t have a voice!

Linda J.

The SDRM saved my life as I didn't have to sleep on a sidewalk. The staff does an amazing job. I am grateful that the place is there. I don't know what I would have done without them. Sending love and prayers.