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Community Corner

Seventh Annual Sleepless San Diego

More than 10,000 men, women, and children are homeless in
San Diego.

Some have suffered sudden homelessness due to abuse or
economic hardship. Others have endured chronic homelessness, which means they
have lived in an emergency homeless shelter continuously for at least one year
or have experienced four episodes of homelessness over a three-year span. 

 

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To
increase awareness of the homeless and provide a forum for the community to get
involved in changing lives, the San Diego Rescue Mission (www.sdrescue.org) will hold its Seventh Annual Sleepless America San Diego
event on September 21/22, 2013 at Liberty Station.  The event begins at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and ends Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. This SLEEP OUT or STAY
LATE event raises awareness of homelessness, educates San Diegans on ways they
can help those on the streets, and generates funds to help thousands of local
homeless men, women, and children put their lives back together. To register,
please visit www.sleeplesssandiego.org.

 

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Herb Johnson, President and CEO of the San Diego Rescue
Mission, noted that since 1955 the Rescue Mission has provided sanctuary and
hope for the homeless. Over the years, it has adapted and expanded to address
the evolving demands for service.  
Long-term rehabilitation and restorative programs, emergency shelter for
women and children, and a recovery center for the homeless leaving the hospital
are just some of the programs through which the Mission gives people the tools to escape the
streets.

 

“Seven years ago, the San Diego Rescue Mission, in
collaboration with other faith-based, social service, and community partners,
launched Sleepless America San Diego to bring attention to the challenges of
chronic homelessness and the ever increasing number of people living on the
streets of this wonderful city,” said Johnson. “We needed to do something to
elevate the process of finding solutions. This year, we expect about 25 to 30
Rescue Missions across America will participate in Sleepless America.”

 

In an effort to increase education and awareness, there will be
activities to help the homeless, educational discussions, games, and Sleepless
products.

 

Johnson noted that participants can come for the evening activities
only.  Those who wish to sleep over will
be able to choose to sleep on a cot, cardboard, or plastic sheeting to gain a
greater appreciation of the homeless condition. 

 

“We clearly recognize that Sleepless America San Diego does not in any
way recreate the dire and often haunting circumstances of true homelessness,”
said Johnson.   “The approximately 1,000 participants
of Sleepless America San Diego who choose to spend the night will enjoy live
music from local artists and musical groups, hear testimonies from people who
have been helped by partner organizations and engage in fireside chats that
focus on the personal aspects of homelessness. Our goal is to generate increased
awareness of and solutions for a truly tragic situation that affects far too
many people in our community.”

 

Participants will receive light snacks and beverages, and will be able
to purchase food on site.  First aid
supplies, medical staff, and private security guards will be on-site throughout
the event. 

 

“Ours is a message of hope,” said Johnson, “and as Sleepless
campaigns expand across America,
we pray that our voices join together to help bring powerful coalition and
solutions to the plight of homelessness.”

 

Sleepless America San Diego

 

Founded by the San Diego Rescue
Mission in 2007, Sleepless America San Diego encourages all members of the
community to join the Rescue Mission and its Sleepless Alliance partner
organizations to “sleep out” on one designated night per year to increase
recognition of homelessness, demonstrate unity, and become part of the chorus for
lasting solutions. For additional information on Sleepless America San Diego,
or to register for the event, please visit www.sleeplesssandiego.org.

 

About the San Diego Rescue Mission

 

Founded in 1955, The San Diego
Rescue Mission (SDRM) is a faith-based organization that offers safe-haven as
well as restorative care and rehabilitation services to the homeless, addicted,
abused, and poor in our community. 
Headquartered in Banker’s Hill, downtown San Diego,
San Diego Rescue Mission offers a wide range of onsite programs and services
through our Nueva Vida Haven Emergency Shelter, Partners for Hunger Relief,
Men’s Center, Women and Children’s Center, Transitional Housing, Recuperative Care Center,
and Outpatient Clinic.  San Diego Rescue
Mission also owns and operates Thrift Stores in North Park, National City, and
City Heights. For additional information, please visit www.sdrescue.org.

 

 

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