The Lucky Duck Foundation has announced that it will fund up to 150 new shelter beds created by Rescue Mission in East and North County.
At a press conference with leaders from the San Diego Rescue Mission and the city of Vista, the Lucky Duck Foundation pledged $10,000 for every new permanent shelter bed built by Rescue Mission at a shelter they plan to open in Vista, for up to 150 beds.
Last month, the Vista City Council unanimously approved Rescue Mission’s building proposal for a homeless shelter in the city, and the organization is evaluating potential sites where they could open a shelter in East County as well.
If Rescue Mission does open a shelter in East County, they could also take advantage of the Lucky Duck Foundation’s $10,000-per-bed gift there, through June 2026.
According to Lucky Duck Foundation chief executive officer Drew Moser, building shelter beds is a pragmatic, cost-effective step to address homelessness immediately.
“In San Diego County, building a single housing unit can easily cost more than $500,000 and take many years to complete,” said Moser in a release. “While additional housing is needed, the timeline and economics simply do not match the urgency of the crisis.”
The press conference was held at Rescue Mission’s South County Lighthouse, a shelter in National City which opened June 2024, with funding from the Lucky Duck Foundation.
Since opening last June, Rescue Mission’s South County Lighthouse has provided around 20,000 meals and shelter for more than 200 people.
Lucky Duck Foundation also helped open Rescue Mission’s North County Lighthouse in 2023, which has sheltered more than 550 people in Oceanside to date.
According to Rescue Mission President and chief executive officer Donnie Dee, the organization helps address the root causes of homelessness, including addiction and mental health challenges.
“Thanks to the Lucky Duck Foundation’s ongoing support of our shelter bed and outreach efforts, we’ll soon be able to open more shelter beds critically needed in Vista and East County,” Dee said.
