New Home for Serving Homeless

The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission, a regional nonprofit organization serving the homeless and poor, dedicated its new facilities in North Hollywood on Thursday.

The property at Saticoy Street and Varna Avenue has two buildings totaling 25,000 square feet of warehouse and office space, agency officials said.

The 15,000-square-foot building will house a thrift shop scheduled to open next month, officials said. Administrative offices and a food distribution center will be in the 10,000-square-foot building.

At Thursday’s opening, several pastors, social services workers and volunteers, including actor George Kennedy, toured the buildings before eating lunch prepared by formerly homeless men in the mission’s culinary arts program.

“We have made a tremendous investment here because there is such a huge need in the Valley,” said Jerry O. Roberg, president and chief executive of Rescue Mission Alliance, based in Oxnard.

Previously, the San Fernando Valley mission had operated out of a smaller facility on Valjean Avenue in Van Nuys. The new buildings will allow it to expand services to include the thrift store and food distribution center, Roberg said.

Income from the thrift shop will help fund other programs, Roberg said. The food center will distribute items to churches, which will give them to needy people.