If I Could Change One Thing

In this episode of If I Could Change One Thing, Dr. Brittnie Bloom and podcast team member Alexis Greenfield sit down with Cara Mears, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at the San Diego Rescue Mission (SDRM), to explore innovative and compassionate approaches to addressing homelessness. Cara shares her powerful career journey, from decades in sales to answering a personal calling sparked by a life-changing encounter with a man experiencing homelessness. She explains the SDRM’s holistic model, which prioritizes rehabilitation, mental health, sobriety, job training, and community connection, resulting in an 85% long-term success rate for graduates of their residential program. Throughout the conversation, Cara challenges stigma, reframes common misconceptions about homelessness, and reminds listeners that sustainable change happens when communities come together with time, talent, and heart.