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After rebuilding his life through the ARC, Jesus Vargas-Flores now helps others find recovery through connection, outreach and ongoing support.
The streets are still quiet as Jesus Vargas-Flores heads out with The Salvation Army’s Santa Monica Hope Team for morning street outreach alongside officers from the Santa Monica Police Department.
They move through neighborhoods, stopping when they can and checking in with people who spent the night outside. Some keep to themselves, he said. Others look up, unsure of who’s approaching or what they want.
The group is there to offer services to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Hesitation isn’t uncommon at first. But when Vargas-Flores tells them he’s been in a similar place, people tend to open up.
“I understand what it feels like to be on that side of the conversation,” he said. “That helps.”
The shared experience builds trust in moments that might otherwise go nowhere.
In August 2021, Vargas-Flores found himself at a low point after struggling with substance use, which led to a probation violation and arrest.
“I remember calling out to God and just saying, ‘I don’t want to feel like this anymore,’” he said.
Just days later, he learned about The Salvation Army Santa Monica Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC), one of the organization’s residential programs offering support to individuals facing physical, emotional and spiritual challenges, including substance abuse. Vargas-Flores reached out, was accepted into the program and began to rebuild his life with structure, emotional and spiritual support, and a renewed sense of purpose.
“I took everything in like a sponge,” he said. “I told myself, I need to commit to this and come out on the other side better than I was before.”
The commitment didn’t end when he completed the program.
After graduation in March 2022, Vargas-Flores stayed connected to the Santa Monica Corps and the ARC. He took on roles such as kitchen supervisor and continued supporting men in the program, drawing on his own experience.
“God led me to the Salvation Army when I didn’t even realize it. This is where I got my life back, and I know it can do the same for others.”
Jesus Vargas-Flores
Captain James Fleming, who mentored Vargas-Flores when he was Santa Monica Corps Officer, brought him onto the corps’ staff after recognizing his connection to others and the community.
“He became a consistent source of support and grew into a mentor for those navigating challenges like homelessness, recovery and life after the program,” said Fleming, who is now the Golden State Divisional Youth and Candidates’ Secretary.
Vargas-Flores began picking up men from the ARC and bringing them to Sunday services at the Santa Monica Corps, a practice he continues today. He also helped connect them to additional opportunities and events at the corps.
“It can be an obstacle to transition back to a normal life after overcoming something,” Fleming said. “Jesus makes it easier by helping men feel welcome and invited.”
Vargas-Flores began reaching out to people in the community facing hardship or homelessness, often sharing part of his story and helping guide them toward Salvation Army programs and services in Santa Monica.
“We could see how committed he was to helping people toward stability, and we thought, why not expand on that?” Fleming said.
His efforts led to the expansion of the Santa Monica Hope Team—an outreach initiative focused on building relationships and connecting individuals to services across the community—with Vargas-Flores initially serving as a lead case manager.
In 2025, the team managed more than 200 cases, connecting individuals across Santa Monica to housing, treatment and support, including the ARC.
Today, Vargas-Flores serves as the Santa Monica Corps Assistant, helping oversee the Hope Team and support other operations at the corps. Still, he said his work goes beyond any single role.
Whether during outreach or inside the ARC program, he sees meaningful connection as a foundation of recovery.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as sending a text and checking in with someone,” he said. “That makes all the difference when someone is starting over.”
Robert Gonzales, who graduated from the ARC in 2024 and now works as an administrative assistant at the Santa Monica Corps, said Vargas-Flores played a role in helping him get where he is today.
“He’s quick to make himself available,” Gonzales said. “He’s someone people look up to. He’s been there, and he shows you what’s possible.”
Together, Vargas-Flores and Gonzales have remained active in the ARC’s alumni association, with Gonzales serving as president and Vargas-Flores as vice president. They focus on fun in recovery, organizing events for graduates, including softball games, family fun days, barbecues and other gatherings that bring people together.
Vargas-Flores recalled one graduate who reached out a few months after completing the program, feeling lost and unsure. He encouraged him to attend alumni events and reconnect with others.
“Sometimes people just need to know someone is there, someone’s listening,” he said.
He said those moments reinforce that no one should have to face challenges alone.
“God led me to The Salvation Army when I didn’t even realize it,” Vargas-Flores said. “This is where I got my life back, and I know it can do the same for others.”
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