The Mission, Vision, and Foundation of the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission
Our Mission
“To serve those in need by sharing the saving grace of Jesus Christ through the provision of food, shelter, clothing, and spiritual recovery.”
Our Vision for the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission
At the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, we strive to help men and women who are in peril and poverty find reconciliation with God, their true, healthy selves, and society. We facilitate recovery and self-sufficiency for those drawn to our ministry by providing shelter, food, basic needs, and emotional support. Through our ministry, we can also offer clients recovery classes and support when fighting addiction.
Our Foundation of Faith
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, and the authoritative rule of faith and practice.
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit; in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings; in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, and ascension into heaven to the right hand of the Father; and His personal, visible return to this earth.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide.
We believe in the universal Church-the living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head, and all regenerated persons are members.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
The History of CVRM
The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission was founded in 1971 out of a deep concern for the growing number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the Coachella Valley. Business and faith leaders, with support from Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles, came together to purchase property on Van Buren Boulevard in what was then known as the Carver Tract. From humble beginnings—a WWII-era meeting hall transformed into a soup kitchen and men’s shelter—the Mission began serving those most in need with compassion and dignity.
As the crisis evolved, so did our response. In the mid-1980s, an increase in homeless women and families led to the purchase and renovation of the adjacent “Hot Spot” nightclub, creating a safe and welcoming shelter for mothers and children. This expansion also brought a new dining room, kitchen, walk-in cold storage, and a second-story addition for administrative and program offices.
By the early 2000s, the demand for services far exceeded capacity. In 2008, we launched the Building New Beginnings Capital Campaign, culminating in the completion of our current 60,000-square-foot campus in 2011. This facility currently includes up to 200 long-term program beds for men, women, and children and a 75-bed emergency shelter. In 2015, the Annex expansion added a 10,000-square-foot overnight shelter and a non-emergency medical clinic, currently operated by SAC Healthcare.
Today, CVRM serves over 275 individuals daily and provides more than 300,000 meals and 100,000 nights of shelter each year. Our long-term programs—Gateway and New Life—help men and women achieve lasting change, with over 80% of graduates remaining housed and stable a year after completing the program.
As we look to the future, CVRM continues to grow. A new women’s and children’s shelter, expanding our Family Program, opened in Summer 2025, along with a dedicated laundry facility. Our street outreach teams, long-term residential programs, and housing services ensure that every person we serve is met with hope, dignity, and a path forward.
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission remains a place of refuge, recovery, and renewal—made possible by the faithful support of our community and generous donors like you.