We See You San Diego seeks donations to sustain addiction recovery sponsorships for people experiencing homelessness

A relationship-based outreach with medical detox and long-term recovery sponsorships

We See You San Diego, a San Diego-based nonprofit, is seeking donations to maintain its outreach model for people experiencing chronic homelessness alongside substance use disorders. The organization operates as a California-registered 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit and centers its work on weekly gatherings designed to build relationships that can lead to treatment entry.

The group’s approach combines hospitality-driven outreach with a structured pathway into care. It reports providing access to inpatient medical detox, placement into residential recovery programs, and ongoing community support as participants transition toward independent living. The nonprofit describes its eligibility for sponsorships as limited to individuals who are currently homeless in San Diego and willing to complete specific steps prior to placement, including repeated check-ins and a commitment to follow detox with a residential program.

Eligibility standards and program requirements

We See You San Diego states it does not provide housing solutions and focuses on detox and recovery sponsorships rather than shelter placement. Individuals seeking sponsorship must initiate contact themselves and attend an outreach event to meet with the recovery team. The organization also states it does not accept third-party referrals, including from family members.

• Target population: people who are currently homeless in San Diego and entrenched in addiction.
• Support offered: detox sponsorships and residential recovery sponsorships, with required commitments that may range from 6 to 12 months depending on placement.
• Screening steps: interviews at outreach events and a series of daily check-ins prior to sponsorship consideration.

Local context: homelessness trends and continuing need

The nonprofit’s fundraising request comes amid shifting regional homelessness figures. The 2025 Point-in-Time Count found 9,905 people experiencing homelessness across San Diego County, down from 10,605 the prior year. The count also reported 5,714 people unsheltered and 4,191 in shelters or transitional housing, reflecting continued pressure on street outreach, treatment access, and stabilization services.

In San Diego County, the annual Point-in-Time Count reported 9,905 people experiencing homelessness in January 2025.

How We See You San Diego raises funds

In addition to direct donations, the organization operates a recycling-based fundraising effort, “Recycle for Rehab,” accepting California CRV eligible cans and bottles on set weekly schedules. The nonprofit also lists multiple donation methods, including electronic payments and mailed checks, and has promoted time-limited matching campaigns supported by philanthropic partners.

We See You San Diego has also said its weekly outreach resumed after a pause tied to location challenges, with gatherings hosted in Old Town and additional activities organized through community partners. The organization’s ongoing operating costs include food for events, staffing for recovery coordination, and sponsorship expenses tied to detox and long-term residential programs.

What donations are intended to support

The organization links giving directly to treatment access—particularly the cost of inpatient detox and longer residential recovery placements. With demand for addiction services intersecting with unsheltered homelessness, We See You San Diego’s fundraising appeal emphasizes sustaining sponsorship capacity for individuals who meet its program criteria and are ready to enter treatment.