Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Chez.
Hi Laura, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I get to be the Executive Director of a christian nonprofit here in San Diego called We See You San Diego. Our Mission is to see lives transformed among men and women experiencing homelessness and addiction. We create fully-funded customized pathways for people who are homeless and addicted to fentanyl, meth, alcohol . . . honestly any drug.
Our team hosts 8 outreaches every week throughout San Diego County and we host our signature event every Tuesday; a dinner party for on average 200 guests who live on the streets, many of whom are addicted to substances and about 100 volunteers.
I didn’t set out to have this job. I am unqualified for this job. I didn’t have a blueprint that included a solution of how to address homelessness. Actually when we came to San Diego I had zero experience in the space of homelessness and I have no personal experience with drug or alcohol addiction.
But at age 12, God pierced my heart for men and women who were addicted and on the streets and he showed me at the age that HE was the answer and that HE transformed lives. 25 years later, in 2016, I had an encounter with The Lord that confirmed that He was calling me to love men and women in this demographic.
Soon after that experience in 2016, my husband Kevin and our three daughters had the opportunity to move to San Diego. The first thing we did was look for a church. One Sunday we went to a church and the Pastor was highlighting all of the ministries of the church. He mentioned that they had a small dinner for men and women experiencing homelessness in the church parking lot on Tuesday evenings.
I thought, “THIS IS MY CHANCE!” So, I did what any woman called by The Lord would do . . . I leaned over to my husband and told him “You should go check that out. See if it’s dangerous, because I am going to work with people who are homeless.”
Kevin so kindly complied.
On a Tuesday evening in June of 2017 he went to check it out. There were around 8 guests and pizza & soda was being served. That evening, the family that hosted the dinner for years was saying goodbye as they were moving to Northern California. That evening they looked at Kevin and asked, “Will you run this ministry?”
Kevin said yes! So THAT NIGHT they showed him where to keep the plates and they gave him a key to the church!
When Kevin got home I asked him how it went and if it was dangerous or if we could bring the kids next week.
He said “Well we run it now. Let’s just make what we would eat at home.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
LOL. No, it has not been a smooth road in any way but it has been the most wild, beautiful adventure of my life and I wouldn’t trade a day of it.
One thing I didn’t understand when I started getting to know our dinner guests, was why someone would remain on the streets. What would keep someone living in an encampment? Was it really an issue of HOUSING? If an apartment became available, would it solve the problem?
Ultimately, it depends on your view of “the problem”.
What we have learned over the last 9 years around the table is that for the demographic of chronically homeless individuals who are addicted to deadly substances and entrenched in life on the streets, homelessness and addiction are symptoms of the true problem, one that an apartment can’t solve. What we have learned is that for the men and women we have served over the years, childhood trauma, heart ache, abuse, and pain are the root issues that need to be addressed.
We See You extends a corporate invitation to leave homelessness and addiction behind at our weekly banquet, through our street outreaches, and on our “recovery line”. We create fully-funded individualized pathways off the streets for those who are addicted to substances like fentanyl, meth, or alcohol. We See You partners with Christian recovery homes which are places of healing and safety. We offer 6 – 12 month financial support so that cost is not a barrier for people who sincerely want life change.
I would say the biggest struggle are the lies that people believe about themselves. Some of the most common being:
I’m too far gone.
My hopes and dreams don’t matter.
My worst mistakes define me.
I am not worthy of a second chance.
My past will always dictate my future.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We See You exists to see lives transformed among men and women experiencing homelessness and addiction by demonstrating the lavish love of Jesus through authentic relationships, personalized pathways, and long-term support.
Our team believes that transformation begins with being seen.
While many organizations provide services, We See You specializes in building genuine relationships with those who have become invisible to society. We meet people where they are, earn trust over time, and walk alongside them before, during, and long after they leave the streets. The best part is that we don’t just connect people to recovery, we remain in their lives as they rebuild them.
Our organization is known for creating environments of extraordinary dignity and hospitality. Whether it’s a Tuesday Dinner Party, a street outreach, or a recovery journey, every interaction is designed to communicate one message: You matter. You are seen. There is hope.
What sets We See You apart is our unwavering commitment to relationship over efficiency. We believe people are never interruptions, they are the mission. Recovery is more than sobriety. It is the restoration of identity, community, purpose, and hope.
Our team and volunteers work to make the hope of Jesus tangible through ordinary people who choose to love extraordinarily well. We believe lasting transformation happens when people encounter authentic love, experience belonging, and discover that their story is not over.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Come and see! That is the invitation to anyone whose heart is stirred to connect with us. The easiest entry point is volunteering at our Tuesday Night Dinner Party in Old Town. We See You is privately funded. If someone feels led to support this work, we would be honored to partner with you. All details about volunteering and giving can also be found at weseeyousandiego.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.weseeyousandiego.com
- Instagram: @weseeyousandiego
