Director Chris Rutledge with women’s program
manager Celia Gonzales.

We will continue to grow these services with your help

Next month will mark a year since Rescue Mission Alliance Central Coast opened our women’s program. The program was designed for women experiencing homelessness and addiction, and those escaping domestic violence and sex trafficking. For me, this journey has been a constant reminder of how God has his eye on our community. I’d love to share with you some of the biggest challenges, surprises and victories.

The story begins more than a year ago. In October, we hosted our first-ever fundraising dinner. It was intended to spread awareness of this new program, and the need in our area. The overwhelming support we received from the community was truly inspiring.

Fifteen guests from that event became consistent volunteers, and we formed new partnerships with local churches and organizations. We saw donors double their gifts, giving equally to our men’s and women’s programs. We started new relationships with First Christian Church, Santa Maria Vineyard, and Lifeway Fellowship. Churches like Grace Baptist Santa Maria, Santa Maria Foursquare Church, and Heritage Evangelical Presbyterian, long time partners, increased their giving and served as volunteers in new ways.

Our community rallied around us. Serve Santa Maria volunteered to improve our landscaping and replace our old fence. Women’s Bible studies offered to donate clothing and hygiene supplies. In fact, we didn’t need to buy any of those items for the first nine months!

The community support was there, and God continued to show off in the stories. In just one year, our residents have experienced remarkable transformations. Desiree, who was once living in the riverbed and narrowly escaped being trafficked, found safety and hope in our program. Maria, who was struggling on the streets, was brought to our program by her daughter. Several residents have left harmful relationships and found healing, while others have embraced faith in Jesus after being involved in Wicca. These are just a few examples of the incredible journeys our residents have taken.

The staff learned new insights into the challenges they face.

One of our biggest discoveries was the way women perceive their need for help. Many residents who had experienced trafficking or domestic violence were unaware of the trauma they had endured. In counseling sessions, they began to recognize the depth of their pain and the ways in which they had numbed themselves to it. Realizations like these have made it more rewarding to witness these women find healing and hope through their faith in Jesus. The Bible has come alive for them in new ways, offering acceptance, fellowship, and a sense of belonging.

We’ve also formed a valuable partnership with Care Net, a local nonprofit that provides services for pregnant women. Our residents participated in a month-long program, and we learned that nearly half of them had experienced abortions without receiving any support or counseling. This highlights the complex nature of homelessness and addiction and the critical need for comprehensive care.

So, what’s next for us? We need more dedicated monthly supporters to continue our work. Many generous donors have already increased their contributions, and we’re incredibly grateful. If you’re one of them, thank you so much! There’s one more way you can help us: spread the word. Share our mission with your friends and family on social media.

If you’re able, consider increasing your monthly donation. Our immediate priority is to strengthen the financial foundation of our women’s program. However, our long-term goal is to broaden our services to include mothers and children and increase the number of beds we can offer. We need your support to achieve these objectives. Your support is vital to helping change lives for good on the central coast.