Meet Wade Trimmer of San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission in Northridge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wade Trimmer.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Wade. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After wrapping up an architectural apprenticeship 24 years ago, I was in Westwood waiting in line to see a movie. A young girl approached me and asked me more food. I was confused and thought she was lost – she was so young. She let me know that she wasn’t lost but that she was in fact, homeless. She introduced herself as, Angel, and told me she was 12 years old. I was shocked and decided to take her out to dinner at a nearby restaurant. We sat outside and she told me about being kicked out of her home by her step father. At the time, I didn’t know what to do for her or what I could do for her. She walked away that last night and I made a commitment to myself that I would never again be in a situation where I couldn’t help someone who was so vulnerable. The next day I started calling organizations that serve homeless children and I started volunteering at a wonderful organization called, My Friend’s Place. The rest is history…

Has it been a smooth road?
Working with people who have suffered tremendous abuse and other types of trauma is never a smooth road. Each person has their own unique set of strengths and challenges and it’s important to be equipped to leverage the strengths and triage the challenges. The greatest obstacles for me have been advocating for policy changes that impact our most vulnerable citizens. Currently, Los Angeles is facing the highest rate of homelessness in its history. To be sure, there is a significant lack of housing for our residents. But, there is also a significant shortage of resources and political will for people who are suffering with severe mental health and addiction issues.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission is part of the Rescue Mission Alliance. The Rescue Mission Alliance (RMA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in 1972. To accomplish our goal of Changing Lives for Good, RMA provides a safe haven for men, women, and children who are in desperate need of food, clothing, shelter, and support to resolve hunger and homelessness across Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Bernardino Counties. Through a wide range of services – a food bank, three emergency shelters, five residential recovery programs, transitional housing, and job training – RMA supports clients in need and helps them lead healthy, self-sufficient lives. Every night of the year, the RMA provides housing for up to 411 homeless individuals and families.

We specialize in doing more than ending homelessness for people. We help people dream again and then we provide resources to help them achieve their dreams. We also do not receive any type of government funding so we are able to tailor our services to meet the immediate needs of those who come to us for help.

I would say that we are most proud of being a catalyst for change in the lives of those we serve. We know that we can’t make people change, but we can provide a healing and structured environment where change is possible.

In June of 2015, the Mission expanded its operations with the opening of Home Again, a 90-bed family success center that provides short-term and long-term housing, educational resources, employment placement, case management and counseling for formerly homeless families.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Los Angeles is filled with incredibly generous people who support thousands of non-profit organizations financially and through volunteerism.

I believe that Hubert Humphrey once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life-the sick, the needy and the handicapped.

I think our policy makers and average citizens need to understand that we have the ability to make life better for our most vulnerable citizens and that this is our top priority.

Contact Info:

• Address: 8756 Canby Avenue, Northridge, CA 91325
• Website: www.sfvrescuemission.org
• Phone: 818 474 1295
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: sfvrescue
• Facebook: SFV Rescue Mission

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