About City Rescue Mission

Faith-based, solution-based ministry providing a path back to hope for the homeless

For nearly 60 years, City Rescue Mission has been a beacon of hope to thousands in Oklahoma City and beyond.

We’re here to help. Because sometimes bad things happen in life, leading people to make choices that lead them to a dark place. Without a good support system, people can turn to drugs, alcohol and crime, landing them on the cusp of homelessness.

City Rescue Mission offers a path back to hope. Instead of indefinite shelter, we offer a clean, safe, temporary place to stay and successful programs and services to help people transform their lives for the better.

Through our Bridge to Life recovery program, we help people overcome the problems and issues that prevent them from living their best life. And we support our guests every step of the way, with counseling, job training, educational opportunities and more.

At City Rescue Mission, we are:

Christ-Centered

Jesus is our rock

We’re believers united through Christ to serve God and the poor. Our faith compels us to make our services and programs available to people of all backgrounds. Our arms are open to anybody, regardless of race, class, gender or religious beliefs.

Compassionate

We're dedicated to the wellbeing of others

When people are lost, we help them find their way. We’re as focused on the mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of others as we are our own.

Hopeful

People can change – and do

We’re optimistic by choice. When times are hard, we’re confident things can get better. The lost can find their way back onto the path toward a better future. Tired souls can find rest. Bitter attitudes can sweeten. We believe everyone is fully capable of changing for the better, to become the person they’re meant to be.

Responsible

We keep our word

We keep our word and expect others to keep theirs. We’re good stewards of our facility and our community. We hold ourselves and our staff accountable. We’re fiscally and operationally responsible.

Our History

1960

City Rescue Mission is founded by a group of businessmen concerned about helping the transient population in downtown Oklahoma City. The Mission opens a 20-bed facility serving men only.

1968

City Rescue Mission purchases property at 523 S. Robinson, doubling previous capacity to include space and services for women.

1980

A local church donates properties adjacent to the City Rescue Mission property, giving the Mission the ability to open dedicated a women’s shelter and family shelter, as well as a weekly medical clinic and educational facility.

1992

Local businessmen, the Belsky Brothers, donate two properties on the 800 block of West California Avenue.

1994

Mission purchases the remainder of the block from the Oklahoma City School Board, and launches a five-year, $4.5 million capital campaign to include renovation and construction of a new facility.

2000

Current facility located on the 800 block of West California Ave opens in November.

2007

Rev. Tom Jones joins City Rescue Mission as President and CEO. Under Jones’s leadership, City Rescue Mission develops the Bridge to Life recovery program.

Today

City Rescue Mission has expanded its Social Services Coordination by partnering with more than 70 local agencies offering comprehensive care, free of charge, to any client, including those from the community at large.

Executive Staff

Tom Jones

CEO

Erin Goodin

Vice President

Kim Combs

Vice President

Adam Jones

Vice President

Directors

Brenda Guisinger

Executive Assistant

Charlie Buchanan

Security Director

Danielle Furstenberg

BTL Program Administrator

Jeremy Torres

Recovery Director

Raymond Rivas

Men’s Center Senior Director

Gus Guisinger

Operations Director

Shanda Glover

Women’s Center Senior Director

Management Staff

Brandie Goins

Accounts Receivable Manager

Carol Sparr

Specialized Services Case Manager

Christie Honza

Community Outreach Coordinator

Donna Schlueter

Administrative Assistant

Treina Castleberry

Marketing Director

Kristen Hopkins

Volunteer Coordinator

Ray Dillahunty

Night Security

Makayla Tanquary

Recovery Case Manager

Ron Jensen

Men’s Center Security

Sean West

Recovery Case Manager

Shellie Holt

Events Director

William ‘Bill’ Strain

Security

Marilyn Bond

Kitchen Manager

Shawn Leeper

Security

Allen Shaw

Intake Specialist and Short Term Case Manager

Josiah Atkins

BTL Administrative Assistant/Intake

Skip Bold

Work/School Case Manager

Damion Swearingen

Warehouse Supervisor

Samantha Temple

Work and School Case Manager

Board Members

Susan Dakil
Chairman
Dakil Auctioneers, Inc.

Collin Walke
Past Chairman
Rubenstein & Pitts

Stephen Cortes
Secretary of the Board
Cortes Law Firm

Ted Strickland
Treasurer
Griffin Communications, LLC

Tony Vaughn
Devon Energy Company

Jon Cargill
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

Tim Newville
Chairman Elect
American Energy Partners

Pastor Rodney Fouts
Pastor, North Church

John Higginbotham
Bank of Oklahoma

Bob Kelly
American Energy Partners

Eldon Overstreet
Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

Tom Russell
New Source Energy

Alisa Trang
Green Dress For Success

Rep. Jon Echols
Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 90

Tom Caraway
Insurica