The Orange County Rescue Mission, one of the largest nonprofit homeless service providers in the county, announced June 12 that its chief executive, Jim Palmer, resigned from the role after over 30 years of service.
Representatives did not give a reason for Palmer’s resignation, however, they confirmed his departure from the faith-based nonprofit in a public statement last week. Recent media reports state Palmer’s resignation was due to health reasons.
The nonprofit also announced that current Chief Operations Officer Bryan Crain will serve as interim president until a permanent replacement is found.
“Bryan has led Orange County Rescue Mission’s operations for nearly 10 years, and we are confident that the organization will continue to flourish under his leadership,” officials said in the statement.
Palmer, who started at the agency as a volunteer, eventually took the reins as its president and chief executive in 1992. At the time, the shelter only had the capacity to serve a handful of transients and others in need.
There were only nine people on staff at the mission at the time, and the nonprofit was $90,000 in debt, Palmer told the Los Angeles Times earlier this month.
After becoming CEO, Palmer squared the organization’s finances and eventually helped establish a transitional housing facility, called House of Hope, which provides parenting training and sobriety support for women in need. The facility also includes a healthcare clinic and served as a model for similar future housing projects in the area.
Palmer’s service in Orange County eventually spanned across three levels of government simultaneously—as a Tustin City Councilman from 2006 to 2010; then nominated by President George W. Bush in 2007 to serve as director for the Corporation for National and Community Service board, where Palmer oversaw a budget of $1.2 billion for the volunteer program until 2012.
Palmer also served as an Orange County commissioner from 1998 to 2013, during which time he provided guidance on the county’s homeless count and assisted in applying for grants to help such individuals.
“It could never have been a better time to step aside because the Rescue Mission is in its best financial position,” Palmer told the Los Angeles Times. “It has the best leadership that I’ve ever seen. I will drive by the campuses, and I’m certain my heart will drop a bit.”
