The San Diego Rescue Mission celebrated the graduation of 46 participants from its rehabilitation and recovery program Saturday, helping them overcome homelessness. The 12-month Mission Academy Residential Program provides men, women and single parents the tools and resources they need to overcom e homelessness and rebuild their lives, according to SDRM officials. “Today is about more than graduation. It’s about hope and transformation,” Donnie Dee, President and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission said. “Over the past 12 months, each one of these Mission Academy graduates has done the hard work to change the trajectory of their lives by addressing the root causes of their homelessness while gaining life skills, education, job training and stable housing. We’re incredibly proud of their achievements and this is how we create real change in the state of homelessness in San Diego.” The graduation ceremony was held Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego and brought together family members, staff and volunteers to commemorate the graduates’ journeys from crisis to stability, officials said. Mission Academy graduates will continue their journey through SDRM’s alumni program, which provides ongoing support to help them maintain long-term stability and success, according to officials. As of December 2025, 93% of surveyed alumni remained in stable housing and 60% had stable income. As part of its 70th anniversary, SDRM is expanding its Mission Academy program to serve more women and families in need, SDRM said. The organization welcomed additional participants in April as part of an expansion of its Women’s Program. SDRM is increasing the number of beds dedicated to women from 52 to 88 and adding eight new rooms for single mothers, bringing the total to 17. “The expansion will help ensure more women and families have access to holistic recovery support, safe housing and long-term stability,” according to a statement. ...read more read less