Men, women and children are encouraged to find long-term relief from homelessness at the Rescue Mission through extensive, residential holistic programs.
The complete holistic package is designed to show the pathway to restoration and hope, identifying destructive behavior while equipping clients with the necessary resources to establish independent lives of self-sufficiency and self-determination.
Last year more than 200 men and women successfully completed various components of the Rescue Mission’s Holistic Program.
- Skills to break drug and alcohol dependence
- Job skills training and vocational classes
- Education and GED certification with local community colleges
- Counseling and spiritual guidance
- Financial literacy education
- Computer training
- Biblical training
- Life management skills
- Household management skills
- Job placement
- Transitional living
After graduation from the discipleship program, transitional housing is made available.
“I was hungry and homeless. God led me to the Rescue Mission and I felt relief just walking in the doors. They’ve given me the strength to take care of myself and to always stay prayerful.”
– Angela, a graduate of our Life Transformation Program
Find out more information about these specific programs:
Men's Center
Each discipleship program member spends approximately 1,040 hours in classes, which may include GED studies and preparation, and even college level courses at a local community college.
In addition, every discipleship program member spends over 1,000 hours in a therapeutic job-skills training assignment learning the disciplines associated with an employable trade-skill commensurate with their career goals.
Individual and group counseling sessions are held on an on-going basis, and each program member attends three sessions per week.
Counseling sessions address the following:
- Legal issues
- Family relationships and means of restoration
- Outstanding financial issues (such as back taxes or child support)
- Anger management
- Household budgeting
- and other practical life-skills
More than a third of the men who seek shelter at the Bay Area Rescue Mission have served in the armed forces and recent studies indicate that there will be a significant increase in that number as our troops return from fighting the war on terror.
Many of our guests struggle with mental/emotional issues and addiction disorders. Declining wages have put housing out of reach for many workers in California. Veterans answered the call when needed and they should be honored and cared for. At the Bay Area Rescue Mission we believe that those who put their lives on the line for us deserve to be honored and treated with respect.
To find out more information about our Men’s center, please call (510) 215-4868.
Center For Women and Children
The Center for Women and Children provides single women and women with children a place of shelter and support in their time of need.
The Center offers dormitories and private rooms for sleeping, a dining room for meals, and showers and toiletries. It provides both initial protection and a starting point for our guests who are in need of a safe place to begin to address their problems and create a plan for the future.
Currently we have 195 shelter beds for homeless single women and women with children. Of those, 30 beds are for emergency shelter and 165 beds are for our long-term discipleship program. Last year we were at capacity 341 nights of the year.
The single mothers with children who come to the Rescue Mission are dealing with multiple issues such as a recent divorce, low income without sufficient savings to weather a job loss or a debilitating illness or escaping domestic violence.
Protection from the elements and from the hazards of street life is essential to our guests’ health and state of mind, especially for women and children. It also gives them the opportunity to begin addressing their problems. Through the combination of innovative programs, a caring community, dedicated staff and volunteers, and our guests’ desire and motivation; homeless individuals are able to regain self-confidence, learn employable skills, strengthen their family unit, and become productive members in the community.
To find out about shelter availability, please call (510) 215-4860.
Job Skills Training
Culinary Arts
The Rescue Mission’s Culinary Arts program provides on-the-job training and career opportunities in the food service industry.
Last year the Rescue Mission provided over 750,000 meals to needy men, women and children. Our program residents are able to work in the kitchen environment and train for employment in the food service sector. We maintain a strong collaboration with Contra Costa College’s Culinary Arts department which provides college credit to our culinary arts students.
For more information, visit https://www.barmfoods.com.
Transitional Housing
After graduation from the Discipleship Program, Transitional Housing is made available.
The Rescue Mission offers its graduates a 12-month stay-in transitional housing so that they can obtain employment, accumulate funds to venture out on their own, and establish healthy life patterns under the supervision of Rescue Mission staff. This final component of restoration and hope is essential to their long-term success. We can accommodate up to 16 men and 6 women with children.
During their time in transition, residents receive continued instruction and support from Rescue Mission staff, including:
- Financial management training
- Individual and group meetings
- Counseling and spiritual guidance
It Starts with YOU!
A meal for a homeless man, woman or child is just $2.49
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