You can personally address the crisis of homelessness in our community! How? It’s as simple as learning one name of a person living on the streets.
Because to know someone’s name is a first step toward creating lasting change.
OneName is a county-wide movement of everyday people who have taken a simple challenge: to learn the name of one person experiencing homelessness.
Because everyone has a name.
And every name has a story.
And to know their name is to:
Across San Diego county, more men and women—even children and seniors—are experiencing homelessness on our streets.
Every day, homelessness is becoming more visible.
Yet for someone with no home, they can feel more invisible than ever.
When you learn their name, you extend dignity and honor so they feel seen and known.
I saw a woman lying on her stomach in front of an electrical box, her head propped up in her hands as if she were talking to herself. I had just prayed for God to put someone in my path, and then I met Sara. I approached her with some soft crackers and baked goods, asking if she could use some snacks. She looked up, said she was hungry, and gratefully accepted the food. Noticing her missing teeth, I was glad the soft foods were perfect for her. She shared her name with me but politely declined the hygiene kit I offered. Despite her distracted demeanor, I managed to connect with her for a moment and told her I would pray for her. I am continuing to pray that God will rescue Sara from the streets and bring her the help and hope she needs.
Today, I met Claire at the Oceanside Pier. She graciously let me sit and talk with her for a while. I offered her an 'I See You Bag,' but she declined, worried it might get stolen, especially since her struggle with drinking leaves her vulnerable. Claire shared about a bad experience at a 30-day shelter, though she didn’t go into details. I reassured her that the San Diego Rescue Mission would treat her with love and care, and mentioned she could use the phone at the library to contact them. Claire has battled addiction most of her life, even recalling being drunk at four years old. I’m so grateful to the One Name initiative for the chance to meet and learn from her.
As we walked down the stairs to the beach, we noticed Richard sitting at the bottom, eating lunch. After passing by, we decided to sit nearby, casually saying hi and chatting about the weather. We asked if we could talk more, and he was open. Richard, homeless for three years due to drug addiction, lost everything, including his two daughters, who no longer wanted contact with him. He wants to turn his life around, so we introduced him to the San Diego Rescue Mission and its resources, giving him a card and a packet. He kept looking at the card and said he would call. Before we left, he shared about being taken advantage of by others, so we talked about the brokenness in our world and how Christ is the solution. With his permission, we prayed for him before returning to the group.
Get life-changing stories and learn how you can help fight homelessness in the San Diego community.