Bob McElroy, founder of Alpha Project, started the program over two decades ago while preparing for missionary work since 1985. Bob began by handing out sandwiches to needy individuals from the trunk of his car. Bob felt that he needed an opportunity to familiarize himself with the resources available to individuals on the streets, so he spent ten weeks living on the streets as if he were homeless. After time he realized that there were plenty of shelters and soup kitchens providing handouts, but very few real opportunities for homeless individuals to make a change in lifestyle. He observed the process of individuals going from one free handout to another without being offered any chance for real change. In fact, many individuals were able to make a decent living panhandling at $50 to $60 a day to support their drug and alcohol habits, while receiving numerous meals at various soup kitchens. That is when Bob decided, "real change is better than spare change!"

Bob initiated Alpha's 'Work to Recovery' program, which allowed homeless individuals to immediately start working in the community regardless of not having a resume, address, references, etc. In 1991, the City of San Diego requested Alpha Project to operate the Neil Good Day Center, which serves approximately 250-300 homeless individuals on a daily basis. In 1992, Casa Raphael - a residential recovery program-opened and in 1999 expanded from a 90-bed facility to 120 beds. In 1996, Alpha Project started acquiring four HUD properties (492 units) to preserve crucial affordable housing opportunities for low-income families, seniors and individuals. In 2000, Alpha Project became a general partner in The Metro Hotel located in Downtown San Diego. It is a model Single Room Occupancy (SRO) that provides 193 rooms of sober, clean and safe housing for homeless and needy individuals. Overall, Alpha Project serves approximately 1,093 individuals/families on a daily basis.

MISSION of Alpha Project

Alpha Project's mission is to change the face of homelessness through jobs, training, responsibility and trust. Alpha Project empowers individuals, families and communities by providing work, recovery and support services to people who are motivated to change their lifestyle and achieve self-sufficiency. For homeless individuals, it is difficult to find a job without a phone number, address, work history, or references. Alpha Project has created unprecedented work-to-recovery programs that allow individuals to successfully transition into the work force by providing a supportive transitional employment program, outreach services, affordable housing, a residential recovery program and a homeless day center that provides showers, a laundry facility, mail/message service, mental health counseling and referral services.

Burnham Way goes to the "teardowns" of properties and contributes to community improvements.

Find out more: www.alphaproject.org