FAQs

Q: Why do we need a rescue mission in the valley?

A: The Valley Rescue Mission, a faith-based compassion ministry, was launched in the summer of 2009 as a direct response to the ever increasing need of the poor and homeless population in the San Fernando Valley. The Valley Rescue Mission operates under the umbrella of the Rescue Mission Foundation, a California not for profit 501-c-3.
The San Fernando Valley has a population of over 1.8 million people. The Valley is located in the northern section of Los Angeles County which is known as SPA 2 (Service Provider Area 2). Eight service planning areas were created in the County of Los Angeles to assess the needs and resources of each geographical area within Los Angeles County. The San Fernando Valley, SPA 2 is the largest of the eight service planning areas and in many respects the most underserved in terms of health and human services.

For an example, downtown Los Angeles is known as SPA 4, or Metro District, home to the notorious Skid Row. In Skid Row there are an estimated 10,000 homeless individuals each night, but there are four large Rescue Missions, (Midnight, Union, LA and Fred Jordan) addressing the needs of the homeless and hungry. In the San Fernando Valley, before the launching of The Valley Rescue Mission, there was only one Rescue Mission, (San Fernando Valley) which has a sleeping capacity of 50 people, and these beds are designated for family units only.
LAHSA, (Los Angeles Housing Service Authority) a joint venture task force between the City and County of Los Angeles estimates there are approximately 8,000 homeless individuals in the San Fernando Valley. This number is based on the latest homeless survey count conducted in March of 2009. Due to the geographical expansiveness of the Valley, and the large number of homeless families, homeless individuals are not as visible as they are in downtown L.A., nevertheless, these homeless individuals are struggling to survive daily in the San Fernando Valley.
During the non cold weather season, there are approximately 550 beds available through the various homeless service agencies in the Valley such as LA Family Housing, Women's Care Cottage, Tarzana Treatment Center, SFV Rescue Mission, People-In-Progress, Salvation Army etc. From November 15 thru March 15 two additional cold weather shelters are provided for the homeless. One is in Burbank and the other is in Sylmar. When these cold weather shelters are open, an additional 300 beds are available to the homeless. At best, when all shelters and service providers are operating at full capacity, there are only 850 beds available for the nearly 8,000 homeless individuals living in the San Fernando Valley, many of those homeless being children and their parents.
The issue of hunger and homelessness in Los Angeles is a serious problem. Los Angeles County is the homeless capitol of the United States with one out of every nine homeless individuals in the country living here in our backyard. On any given night there are approximately 80,000 homeless in LA County and only 17,000 beds available.
The San Fernando Valley is in serious need of a full-service Homeless Rescue Mission that is pro-actively addressing the needs of the hungry and homeless within its boundaries. This new organization will be governed by people who live in the Valley, work in the Valley or have a heart of compassion for the underserved in the Valley.
The Director of The Valley Rescue Mission is Ken Craft. Ken has spent nearly 20 years serving as a local Pastor and 5 years serving as a Mission Director. Under the mentorship of Jerry Roberg, President of the Rescue Mission Foundation and Founder of the Rescue Mission Alliance, as well as the guidance of a strong Board of Directors and local leaders, Ken will provide the vision and strategies to meet the pressing needs of the underserved and destitute in the San Fernando Valley.
"To the extent that you did it unto one of these, even the least of them, you have done it unto me.”
Jesus