Frequently
asked
questions

We See You San Diego is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization made up of individuals and families from every corner of San Diego & beyond uniting for a common purpose to see lives transformed among those living on the streets of San Diego.

We See You partners with local and national companies, businesses, organizations, recovery & treatment centers who are committed to offering long-term solutions to those living on the streets. We See You is proud to have a diverse, multi-generational team of people who represent over 30 churches of different denominations and backgrounds in addition to those who don’t have a personal faith tradition.

We are so grateful to our faithful team of families and individuals who come to serve from Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Alpine, Carlsbad, Rancho San Diego, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Bay Park, Clairemont, Sera Mesa, Mission Valley, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Linda Vista, Mission Valley, & Downtown San Diego.

To see lives transformed among the homeless and addicted in San Diego.

Hope for ALL

Hospitality at the Highest Level

Hand up vs Hand outs

Healing & Wholeness

June 2017 - today

How many people would accept life-altering help from a person they do not know and do not trust? Our solution to homelessness is a relationship-based model. We host a dinner party to create an environment where relationships can be cultivated so we can be the friend who extends a hand to offer hope and help.

Over the years we have listened to many stories of those living on the streets. Many are stories of abuse that began in childhood. Other common themes are exploitation, abandonment, rejection, trauma, generational addiction, and tragedy. Drugs are in many cases used to numb the pain of the life people have experienced.

We See You’s goal is to interrupt the cycle of homelessness, not enable it. For this reason we offer men and women a path off of the street every single week. We have multiple inpatient detox, residential recovery & treatment program partners, some that will even accept guests the very evening they decide that they are ready to leave drugs and the streets.

We See You is registered in the state of California as a 501(c)3 religious non-profit organization, EIN: 86-2163931. We are not a a church, but an organization with leaders from all different Christian* faith traditions and churches around San Diego and beyond. 

*Christian: “A person who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his teachings.”

We See You is committed to offering our guests the very best we have to give which means we always serve a home-cooked dinner; one that we would eat at home. The atmosphere is set by our incredibly fun & talented We See You House Band which is made up of professional musicians who serve by giving our dinner guests a weekly concert of hits from the 70’s, 80’s and today.

We See You’s guests are treated as VIPs to our signature restaurant-style dinner & beverage service, personal hygiene supply bags handcrafted for each guest based on his or her requests, a gourmet coffee bar experience, dessert cart indulgence, and each guest receives personal shopping assistance for his or her clothing needs. Individuals’ birthdays are celebrated each week and the party always ends with raffle prizes.

All credit goes to the one who thought of the idea, Jesus! In Luke 14:12 Jesus said, “When you give a banquet, do not invite your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors because they will repay you, inviting you back. But instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor… “The beauty of the banquet is that relationships are formed around the table. Trust is built and over time when you eat dinner with people weekly. We want our guests to know that they are worthy of a second chance, that their hopes and dreams still matter, that their worst mistakes don’t define them, and we are here to help.

For those who are chronically homeless and addicted to drugs such as fentanyl, meth, alcohol, we have seen that homelessness is a symptom as opposed to the root problem.

Every week we extend the invitation to our guests to leave the streets and addiction behind. We offer boutique services based on an individual’s needs. If someone accepts the invitation, the cycle of homelessness ends for that person immediately. We See You goes over a range of inpatient detox, residential recovery, treatment programs in San Diego (and beyond) for our guests to consider. If someone is interested in leaving the streets and going to a treatment center that has a monthly fee, we offer sponsorships so that cost is not something that stands in the way of a person getting the help they need.

$1,200/ party on average

At We See You San Diego, the privacy, dignity, and safety of our guests come first.

Many of the individuals we serve are rebuilding their lives. Some are in recovery. Some are navigating legal or housing transitions. Being photographed or recorded without consent can compromise their safety and stability.

For that reason:

• Professional photography or videography (DSLR cameras, video equipment, production gear, etc.) is not permitted without prior approval from WSY leadership.
• Approval must come directly from Laura Chez or Sarah Wagner.
• Approved photographers must wear an official WSY photographer lanyard during the event.
• Only individuals who have given informed consent may be photographed.

We understand that volunteers and attendees may wish to take photos or short videos during events. You are welcome to do so, but we ask that you be respectful of our guests at all times.

• Do not photograph or record guests without their clear permission.
• Avoid capturing identifying details of individuals who have not consented.
• When in doubt, please ask a WSY leader before posting.

Anyone taking photos or video without prior approval in a professional capacity, or in a way that compromises guest safety or dignity, will be asked to stop. If necessary, they may be asked to leave the event.

Individuals or organizations interested in photography or media collaboration may submit an inquiry at:
weseeyousandiego.com/photography

We are committed to creating a space where every guest feels safe, respected, and seen.

There are many different demographics of people who are experiencing homelessness in San Diego. We See You’s solution does not apply to all people experiencing homelessness. The demographic for whom We See You has a comprehensive solution are those who are chronically homeless and addicted to a substance.

Our plan for reducing the number of people living on the streets in San Diego begins with strategic outreach. We See You’s Street Outreach Team visits those living in encampments to establish relationships and invite them to We See You’s weekly dinner party. As relationships are formed we extend the invitation to customize a pathway off of the streets and out of addiction for each individual. Pathways include inpatient medical detox, residential recovery & treatment, and sober living sponsorships and continual community support.

Supportive community is vital for people leaving addiction & homelessness. One of the many reasons people remain on the streets is because of the attachments and the community they have on the streets. We are committed to supporting and walking alongside individuals while they are in treatment and assist them in the process of getting back into society once the program is completed. Those friends are then welcome to come be a part of our team and encouraged to use their story of victory to give hope to others who are still on the streets.

Roughly 85% of the people we serve are in active drug or alcohol addiction.

When we first began serving dinner to those living on the streets of San Diego in 2017, the main ‘drug of choice’ people were using was methamphetamine, followed by heroin, and alcohol. Today the number one drug we see people chained to is fentanyl in addition to methamphetamine.

Over the years we have hosted many memorial services for those whose lives have been lost to opiate overdoses.

$450/ day for an average of 10 days if someone is detoxing from fentanyl or alcohol.

When We See You sponsors a person’s treatment & recovery program, our team is committed to being present for the individual along the way. In addition to financial sponsorships (when applicable), We See You provides care packages, in-person visits, phone calls, letters, and more for those we walk alongside. Having a support system is a vital aspect of recovery and We See You is intentional about being a consistent presence as a person walks into their new life of sobriety.

Because of the relationships that are built with men and women prior to entering treatment and during their time in recovery, We See You is there to assist in providing ‘next steps’ for those transitioning out of treatment. We offer sober living options, assistance looking for jobs, acquiring necessary legal documents, community support, and the opportunity to join our team and use their story of transformation to help encourage others that a different future is possible for them as well.