Contact: James & Claudia
(619) 777-6625

Homeless person with dog

Who They Are

The San Diego Dream Center (SDDC) was founded in January 2008, by Dan and Cathy Duncan. Dan and Cathy are both passionate for people who might be seen as “the least of these,” the addicted and afflicted, and those living on the streets of downtown San Diego.  Their passion led them to organize an effort weekly to give out daily essentials like water, socks and granola bars to the homeless population in San Diego. In addition, they provide educational support with a Bible study on Thursday nights for men in the San Diego Rescue Mission. Their mission is based on the words of Jesus as recorded by Matthew, “When you did it to one of the least of these, you were doing it to Me.” The ministry’s focus is on “finding a need and meeting it, finding a hurt and healing it.” With their slogan, “Won-by-One,” they have been able to leave a great impact on the lives of those they have reached out to.  SDDC provides counseling and around the clock assistance to people who seek them out.  It is their belief that a real, lasting change within someone’s spirit is something only God can do and they are there to help them reach that point.

What They Do

In March 2011, the San Diego Dream Center initiated the Alfred Lopez Project reaching out to people living in low-income single resident housing downtown, which to-date has included opportunities at the New Palace Hotel and the 500 West Hotel/Hostel.  Their next step is to lease or buy a building where they can house and disciple homeless people and share God and His Word.  The San Diego Dream Center is believing in God to provide these funds.  The vision also includes a discipleship center complete with a kitchen, chapel area and a full recovery program.Homeless man sleeping on the street

There are several groups in San Diego offering a recovery and discipleship program including; Father Joe’s Village, Saint Vincent De Paul, The San Diego Rescue Mission and the Alpha Project. Collectively, the groups have an average success rate of about 5%. The state and the city run programs have a success rate of 1-3% and are planning to invest $35 million in the World Trade Center building in downtown San Diego to provide approximately 200-225 beds and a processing center.  The San Diego Dream Center feels that without Jesus Christ in the center of everything—it is not going to work.

During the last four years, the San Diego Dream Center has grown from a grass root effort to educate and disciple eight men in a recovery program into a  solid group of volunteers and has been classified as a 501 (C)(3) non-profit corporation with over 100 private donors. The San Diego Dream Center has also started to receive support from other local churches, including the City Bible Church in Mission Valley, San Diego.  The San Diego Dream Center continues to reach out to the downtown community of San Diego weekly through four different outreach ministries: Adopt-A-Block, church on the street, nursing home visits, and a clothing and food ministry that blesses hundreds of people every week.

Homeless people living in tents

Volunteer Information

Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. Please fill out the volunteer form by clicking here.  Once you have filled out and submitted the form you will be contacted with specific dates and times of the upcoming outreach opportunities.

For more information about how to get involved with the San Diego Dream Center click here.

 

San Diego Dream Center in the news

Read more: San Diego Community News Group – La Jolla charity collects sleeping bags for San Diego’s homeless