The Success Center

Program Overview

The Success Center at Orange County Rescue Mission is a free learning program for homeless adults who live on our campus. We help students improve reading, writing, math, and computer skills. Adults can work toward a high school diploma or Hi‑SET, get help with homework, and learn skills that prepare them for work. Teachers and tutors give one‑on‑one support, and students can use our computers and study areas every day. Classes are held on our main campus in Tustin, where students also receive other services that support their learning. Volunteers are welcome and trained to help adults learn in a safe and caring space. Volunteers are welcome and trained to help students learn in a safe and encouraging space.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

Keith and Heather can't tell you how much a fresh start means for their family. When you're homeless with three children, every day is a battle: Where will we sleep tonight? How will we feed the kids? Who can we trust with our little ones? “It's a scary feeling sleeping in shelters and trying to survive," Heather recalls.

Both Keith and Heather grew up in the same small Oklahoma town, each carrying the weight of unstable childhoods. Keith bounced through foster homes until he was adopted at age 12. Heather was raised by an alcoholic mother and left home at 22 with a newborn and nowhere to go. Addiction followed them into adulthood, and as their family grew, so did the burden of survival. Keith entered a recovery program in California, while Heather stayed behind in Oklahoma, pursuing an education but still battling addiction. Their dream was to rebuild together—but that dream felt out of reach.

After reuniting in California, the family spent their first month homeless, living in a tent and clinging to hope. That hope became a reality when they connected with the Success Center at Orange County Rescue Mission—a transformative hub for adult education, life skills training, job skills development, and career advancement.
Through their commitment and determination, Keith and Heather embraced every opportunity the Success Center offered. From educational attainment classes to 12 life-skills workshops and vocational training, they gained the tools to re-enter the workforce with confidence and purpose. The Success Center didn't just offer resources—it offered a roadmap to stability and a future worth fighting for.

Today, Keith is employed at Patterson Kia Auto, where he's thriving and exploring long-term career pathways. Heather secured a position as a Customer Service Representative with Lendistry, a company known for its robust, family-friendly benefits—ensuring their children are supported and cared for.

Keith and Heather no longer worry about where their children will sleep. They now focus on building a future filled with opportunity, dignity, and hope. The Success Center helped them turn survival into success—and their story is just beginning.