City Lights

Judge Righteously

2011-07-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to a devotional posted on the Mission's website.

Mortality

2011-05-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

We recently received word that one of our former residents passed away. This man was part of our long term resident program about 5 years ago. He is the 3rd former client who has died in as many months. One died from kidney failure, another from accidental insulin overdose, and the most recent from liver cancer. Here are some observations as we consider these deaths:

Each of these men was exposed to the gospel. This gives us confidence and hope; confidence in knowing that we are fulfilling our mission and Christ’s Great Commission; hope in knowing that the Spirit of God can take the Word of God and do amazing things.
Life on the streets is hard. At one time or another, each of these men dealt with substance abuse problems that in some way compromised their health. Life expectancy on the streets is not encouraging.
The Bible is true: it is appointed to men to die. Life is a terminal condition.

The Rescue Mission played a part in each of these men’s lives. We were there when shelter and safety were nowhere to be found; when all other doors were closed, ours were open. It saddens our Mission family to hear these reports, but we know they will not be the last. Help us help others who have no other resources.

One Big Happy Family

2011-05-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

Imagine that a family moved into your neighborhood and this family had 21 children! As good neighbors we would all welcome this family and we would do what we could to lend a hand to help. Maybe some would offer to help with the laundry; some might help with meals, others with child care.

Twenty-one children are staying at the Rescue Mission! Thanks to all of those good neighbors who help with donations, volunteer hours, and food items, and, of course, prayer. Please keep them all coming.

Local Restaurant Cooks Easter Meal For Area Shelter

2011-04-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

Great piece on our local TV news.

Local Restaurant Cooks Easter Meal For Area Shelter

Alarming Realities About Homelessness

2011-04-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Read the rest of this article here:

Over 7% of persons living in the United States have been homeless (defined as sleeping in shelters, the street, abandoned buildings, cars, or bus and train stations) at some point in their lives. Homelessness rates have increased over each of the past 2 decades. An estimated 2.5 to 3.5 million people now experience homelessness each year. Approximately half are families with children, the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population. In 1 study, youth had a 1-year rate of homelessness of at least 1 night of 7.6%.

Although 20% of homeless persons maintain full- or part-time jobs, only 5% are privately insured, often through COBRA. The majority of homeless adults are not eligible for Medicaid in most States, and are also not eligible for Medicare. Approximately 23% of homeless persons (and from 3.1 % to 4.4 % of homeless women) are veterans of the armed services, yet only 57% have received healthcare services through the VA system, where long waits for care exist.

Because they usually lack health insurance, homeless persons tend not to get adequate preventive care and appropriate routine management of such chronic illnesses as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and emphysema. They tend to visit emergency rooms for acute illnesses. Besides lack of health insurance, other barriers to care include denial of health problems; the pressure to fulfill competing nonfinancial needs, such as those for food, clothing, and temporary shelter; and misconceptions, prejudices, and frustrations on the part of health professionals. When hospitalized, the average length of stay of a homeless individual, in 1 study, was 4.1 days, or 36% longer than that of low-income, non-homeless individuals, even after adjustment for differences in the rates of substance abuse and mental illness and other clinical and demographic characteristics. The cost of the additional hospital days per discharge ranged from $2414 to $4094 (1992-1993 dollars).

Homeless adults have an age-adjusted mortality rate nearly 4 times that of the general population; their average life span is shorter than 45 years. Homeless women 18 to 44 years of age are between 5 and 31 times more likely to die than women in the general population. Homeless women older than age 44 are only 1 to 2 times as likely to die, and are healthier than their male counterparts. However, homeless women in their mid-fifties are as physiologically aged as housed women in their seventies and are afflicted to a similar degree with chronic diseases, yet they do not qualify for elderly housing assistance.

Homeless women are more likely than homeless men to have experienced childhood sexual abuse and/or foster care and adult partner abuse. More than 50% of all homeless women and children become homeless as a direct result of fleeing domestic violence. The availability of domestic violence shelter beds in the United States is poor; up to 70% to 80% of women, and 80% of children, are turned away on any given night in major cities. Shelters are woefully underfunded; some do not allow children. Average length of stay at a US shelter is 14 days; most allow a 30-day maximum stay. Ironically, women fleeing domestic violence are often not counted in studies of homelessness, since they are considered to have a home (albeit unlivable) or are staying temporarily in shelters.

4 Ways to Help the Homeless

2011-04-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

I came across this article written by Mary Fairchild;

Matthew 25:35 : For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in ... (NIV)

In 2007, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimated that 3.5 million people in America (1.35 million of them children), were likely to experience homelessness in a given year. While difficult to measure, the increase in the demand for shelter beds each year is a strong indicator that homelessness is on the rise, and not only in America. According to the United Nations, there are at least 100 million homeless in the world today.

While on a short-term mission trip to Brazil, the plight of the street children captured my heart. I soon returned to Brazil as a full-time missionary with my focus on the inner city gangs of children. For four years I lived and worked with a team from my local church in Rio de Janeiro, volunteering in established ministries. Although our mission was geared toward children, we learned a lot about helping the homeless, no matter the age.

If your heart has been gripped by the needs of the hungry, thirsty, strangers on the streets, here are four effective ways to help the homeless in your community.

1) Volunteer

The most productive way to get started helping the homeless is to join forces with a well-established operation. As a volunteer you will learn from those who are already making a difference, rather than repeating the mistakes of well-meaning but misguided novices. By receiving "on the job" training, our team in Brazil was able to experience the rewards of accomplishment right away.

A good place to start volunteering is at your local church. If your congregation doesn't have a homeless ministry, find a reputable organization in your city and invite church members to join you and your family in serving.

2) Respect

One of the best ways to help a homeless person is to show them respect. As you look into their eyes, talk to them with genuine interest, and recognize their value as an individual, you will give them a sense of dignity that they rarely experience.

While it's wise to exercise caution and take measures to ensure your personal safety when ministering to the homeless, by identifying with the real person behind the face on the streets, your ministry will be much more effective and rewarding. Learn additional ways to help the homeless:

3) Give

Giving is another great way to help, however, unless the Lord directs you, don't give money directly to the homeless. Cash gifts are often used to buy drugs and alcohol. Instead, make your donations to a well-known, reputable organization in your community. Many shelters and soup kitchens also welcome contributions of food, clothing and other supplies.

4) Pray

Lastly, prayer is one of the easiest and most positive ways you can help the homeless.

Because of the harshness of their lives, many homeless people are crushed in spirit. But Psalm 34:17-18 says, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (NIV) God can use your prayers to bring deliverance and healing to broken lives.

Just One Away...

2011-04-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

Just to put things in perspective:

In the state of Ohio on any given night, more than 12,000 people are homeless with more than 1,500 of those persons going unsheltered.
Source: COHHIO’s 2009 Ohio Homelessness Report

In Ohio, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $683. To afford this level of rent and utilities––without paying more than 30% of income on housing––a household must earn $27,326 annually, or $13.14 per hour (assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year.) Ohio minimum wage is $7.30. To afford FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 72 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.
Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach 2009 Report

If these figures are accurate, then there are many people in Ohio – and in the Mahoning Valley – who are but one paycheck away from being homeless.

Letter From Roy

2011-03-31T11:14:00.000-07:00

We received this letter in the mail with a donation.

Census Surprise

2011-03-10T06:49:00.000-08:00

The Youngstown Vindicator has released the 2010 census numbers for the city of Youngstown and Mahoning County. The size of the population decrease has caught city officials by surprise with Mayor Jay Williams remarking that “It would almost cause me to question the actual count.”

What has been interesting is how this seems to impact the homeless population. The Rescue Mission has experienced no decrease in the number of homeless people needing shelter. In fact, a modest increase has been observed.

I think that the take-away in this is that homelessness pays little regard to demographic trends and population numbers. Perhaps Jesus was right when he said, “the poor will be with you always.”

Homeless Beauty Contestant

2011-03-01T12:54:00.000-08:00

Even a Miss America hopeful can be homeless. Read the entire story here:

Childhood Memories

2011-02-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, you have a store of memories from your childhood that you often revisit. For me, these include my 1st dog, my first day of school, family trips, playing with friends in the neighborhood, my 1st car, my graduation from high school, and more too many to mention. Homelessness is not part of my experience.

I think of this nearly every day when I see the children in the lobby of the Resident Building waiting for their busses to take them to school. Imagine going to school from the Mission and returning to the Mission at the end of the school day. Imagine attending junior high school hoping that none of your friends discover that you live at the Mission. Imagine that you are the 18 year old high school senior who lives here, who will graduate this year, and has no family support for things like senior pictures, graduation fees, and even the hope of a graduation open house.

If the Mission was not here, these kids and their parents would be on the streets. The high school senior would stay with anyone who would allow him to crash for a few nights. We work hard to make the Mission a safe, clean, and inviting place for the kids who stay with us. Our hope is that the memories of their time here will be pleasant.

Full House

2011-02-21T08:40:00.000-08:00

Well, not exactly full, but for the first time in recent memory, our transient men’s dormitory is full. This dorm sleeps 54 men. For overflow, we have cots to use; we’ve used 4.

Observations:

• Many local people do not see Youngstown as having a homeless problem. Perhaps this is because very few “street people” are ever seen wandering the downtown district.

• Homelessness in not exclusively an inner city problem. More and more people are coming from the suburbs looking for drugs or finding themselves in the Mission because of a drug problem.

• Economic factors may be involved. With unemployment in the Valley at 14% and minimum wage earners finding difficulty maintaining housing and feeding the family, the Mission often becomes a temporary respite between better paying jobs and affordable housing.

• As we get further into 2011, our guest count continues to remain high. During the same period last year, our average overnight count was 70. This year, it has risen to 88.

That's a Lotta Food!

2011-02-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

As the New Year begins, we like to take stock of how we are doing at the Rescue Mission. According to the latest figures, on an average day, we serve 245 meals at the Resident Center on MLK Blvd. That means we must prepare and serve an average of 1,715 meals each week, 52 weeks a year. That’s a lotta food!

To put this in perspective, if you are part of a family of 5 and if 3 meals are prepared daily in your home, you will prepare 15 meals each day, 105 each week (of course, with our busy lives, it is rare that a family will have 3 full meals daily). However, unlike the Mission, you will normally serve to the same 5 people each day, with the exception of the occasional friend or relative stopping by for dinner. At the Mission, we serve our in-house guests and then we open the doors to the public. We never know for sure how many guests we will have for each meal.

The meal program at the Mission is an important part of the ministry. We are motivated by the love of Christ and desire to display him in our service. The Bible teaches us: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace. Be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that” (James 2:15-16)? “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him” (1 Jn. 3:17)?

Point-in-time

2011-02-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Recently, the Rescue Mission participated in the statewide “point-in-time” count. The purpose of the count is twofold; first, to assess the occupancy rates of shelters across Ohio and, secondly, to find and count the unsheltered people with a view to obtaining shelter for them. Generally, no unsheltered people are found in our area – at least in the winter. However, a significant increase was seen in the shelters in the Mahoning Valley. For the Rescue Mission, the same day last year saw 70 people spending the night; this year there were 88.

The specific reason for this increase eludes explanation. It may be the result of a number of factors – the economy, foreclosures, addiction, mental health issues, or any combination. It is obvious that the need exists in the Mahoning Valley for an emergency shelter. Many Valley residents are unaware of the homeless problem in our community. It is a secret that is making itself known

There is a warm place to sleep tonight.

2011-01-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

The first month of the Cold Weather Emergency Program is in the books. December overnight stays were 1164, 308 of those were women and children. The purpose of this program remains the same as it has for 21 years: to make sure that no one freezes to death during the coldest time of the year. The Cold Weather Emergency Program is a collaborative effort with the Rescue Mission, Help Hotline, and partner agencies within the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care.

The Cold Weather Emergency Program will continue until the last day of March. Those in need of emergency shelter need to call 211 for information and transportation to the a shelter. “There is a warm place to sleep tonight.”

Cold Weather Program and Homeless Memorial Day

2010-12-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, December 1, began the Cold Weather Emergency Program. This program is a collaborative effort among many agencies in the Valley who work with the homeless and near homeless in our community. This program began 21 years ago with a single focus: to insure that no one freezes to death during the coldest part of the winter due to lack of shelter.

Between December 1 and March 30, people in need of shelter may call Help Hotline’s Emergency number and transportation will be provided to the Rescue Mission, the overnight shelter for the program. The numbers are: 1-800-427-3606 or 211 (within Mahoning County). You can read about the program kick off and the Homeless Awareness Walk from today’s Youngstown Vindicator here.

Speaking of cold weather, we are counting down the days until the National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day on December 21. From the National Coalition for the Homeless:

On or around the longest night of the year, December 21, the National Coalition for the Homeless and National Health Care for the Homeless Council hold memorial services for homeless individuals who have died from causes related to their homelessness.

Read the text of the Congressional resolution here.

Thanksgiving at The Mission

2010-11-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

What would Thanksgiving day be without pumpkin pie? Thanks to those who donated delicious pies!

Volunteers are so important to the Thanksgivng Day meal.

A feast worthy of a healthy appetite.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T13:17:00.000-08:00

Each year we have a Thanksgiving service on the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving Day. we share with each other about the things that God s doing in our lives, and then we look to God's Word. This is a small part of the service this morning.

National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week

2010-11-16T07:31:00.000-08:00

November 14-20, 2010

National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week

2010-11-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

"November 14 – 20, 2010 is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. At this time of year, many of us pause to take a moment to consider what we are thankful for. The National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week draws attention to the struggles faced by many of our family members, friends and neighbors that are experiencing hunger and homelessness" (from COOHIO newsletter).

2010-11-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lynn Wyant for arranging this photo of the Mission staff (unfortunately, several are not pictured).

Homeless Man Assaulted

2010-11-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, a 58 year old homeless man was attacked and beaten by a group of young boys aged 9-16. As far as we know, this is the first incident like this in the Valley. Pray that it will be the last. Read the Youngstown Vindicator story here.

Harvest Party

2010-11-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

Last week we enjoyed our annual Harvest Party in the Mission dining hall. We do this each year at the end of October as a substitute trick-or-treat for the kids, both young and old. We extend a special thanks to the kind people at Healing Waters Church for supplying the clown, face painting, games and fun.

Another Graduation

2010-11-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

This morning the Mission family celebrated with Robin Mackey as she marked the completion of the 1 year Christian Discipleship Program. With almost almost 18 months of sobriety, Robin is an example of how the gospel can change a life.

One of the volunteer study leaders encouraged Robin to attend her church, Kingdom Community Church. "Miss Jeannie" would make the effort to come to the Mission each Sunday to take Robin and others to church. She found a loving congregation who has gathered around her to care for her even after she leaves the Mission. Her pastor, Rev. Rusty Wills, offered words of encouragement to the assembled guests. The ceremony had to be moved from the chapel to the dining hall - a testimony to the impact Robin's testimony has made on so many people.

Graduation

2010-10-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Last week we rejoiced with Henry Burleson as he completed the Christian Discipleship Program. Pastor Ron Shipley from Hopewell Baptist Church in Struthers encouraged Henry, the staff and clients of the Mission from God’s Word. Henry is a member of Hopewell and we know that he will receive good care and counsel as he progresses in his Christian life.

Henry is currently employed as a part-time dishwasher at Denny’s and he is putting aside money to eventually move into his own place. Congratulations, Henry on this milestone in your life.

Cornhusking

2010-10-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is a poem by John Smith, a former resident of the Mission:

The repetitive motion
Pulling, stripping
The sound that gave the task its name:
Shuck! Shuck!
Two baskets full.
It took them about 20 minutes.
He remembered as a boy
Doing the same
On long summer afternoons
His mother asking,
Interrupting his reading,
To shuck and then brush
The opalescent silks away
From the fat, yellow ears.
Today the corn will go on tables
With no placemats, no centerpiece,
No heirloom flatware.
There will be no blood relations
Holding hands during grace.
But ‘round this table
A new brotherhood:
Comrades of the slow death;
Of concrete; of sore and sweaty feet.

And, today, he didn’t mind the worms at all.

Homeless in Youngstown

2010-10-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

This video was put together several years ago when the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care announced its 10 program to end homelessness. Realistically, we do not think that we can bring homelessness to an end, but the community-wide collaboration that was the result of the project has gone a long way to bringing help to those in need. Some of the people in this video are no longer part of the community, but it is still helpful to demonstrate the level of cooperation in Youngstown. The Rescue Mission is happy to be part of the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care.

Anniversary

2010-10-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

In October (some say on October 6) of 1872, the first Rescue Mission in the United States opened its doors.

Jerry and Maria McAuley founded America's first rescue mission in 1872. Their work blossomed into New York City Rescue Mission (NYCRM), which has been serving the city without interruption since then.

McAuley, a self-described "rogue and river thief," was transformed while reading the Bible during his imprisonment at Sing Sing in the 1860s. After his release he married Maria, who shared a similar life experience, and they began a shelter for poor New Yorkers. They were the first to open the doors of a religious institution every night of the year to the outcasts of society.

In the shaky post civil war economy of the 1870s, New York City experienced a wave of European immigration which placed a great strain on the city's resources. There was more hardship and poverty than the city had yet witnessed, and there was no place for the poor to find shelter.

Alfrederick Smith (A.S.) Hatch, a president of the Consolidated Stock Exchange, donated the first Mission building to the McAuleys and helped incorporate it as the McAuley Water Street Mission. A God-fearing man, Hatch developed a love for what he called "the roughest, dirtiest, swearingest, drinkingest men alive" while voyaging on the Atlantic as a merchant sailor in 1849 and 1850. His love for what were termed "the undeserving or unworthy poor" allowed the McAuleys to realize their vision.

This Mission still exists as the New York City Rescue Mission.

Twenty-one years later, the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley opened its doors as Christ Mission Settlement. Rescue Mission ministry has a long history in this country. The social dynamics have changed through the years but the need is still the same: offering food, safety, shelter, and a second chance in the context of Christ centered outreach of love and compassion.

Homeless in Ohio

2010-10-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

As of the last official count, about 671,859 people experience homelessness on any given night in the United States. In Ohio, the estimate is about 150,000. If they were all gathered together in one place, they would be the 7th largest city in Ohio. During the 2010 Point-in-time count, 12,407 Ohioans were homeless on a single night. During that same night, 1831 were living on the streets in Ohio. In Mahoning County alone, 79 people in families experienced homelessness on that same night.

Why are people homeless? Here are 10 reasons (taken from Portland Rescue Mission):

10 CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS

1. Addiction

Probably the most common stereotype of chronically homeless people is that they are drug and alcohol addicts -- with good reason. 68% of U.S. cities report that addiction is a their single largest cause of homelessness.* "Housing First" initiatives are well intentioned, but can be short-sighted. A formerly homeless addict is likely to return to homelessness unless they deal with the addiction. Treatment programs are needed that treat the root causes of addiction and help men and women find a way back home. (*Source: National Coalition for the Homeless - Substance Abuse.)

2. Domestic Violence

Nationally, 50% of homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence.* When a woman is abused, she faces a crisis of safety. If she stays in the home, she'll be beaten again. If she leaves, she'll have little means of support. Either choice is a tremendous risk. Choosing homelessness over abuse is both a brave and frightening decision. (*Source: National Coalition for the Homeless - Domestic Violence.)

3. Mental Illness

6% of the American population suffers from mental illness. In the homeless population, that number jumps to 20-25%.* Serious mental illnesses disrupt people’s ability to carry out essential aspects of daily life, such as self care and household management. Without assistance, these men and women have little chance of gaining stability. (*Source: National Coalition for the Homeless - Mental Illness.)

4. Job Loss and Underemployment

The current downtown in the economy has many Americans barely getting by financially. Many are underemployed at wages that can't sustain them. Layoffs and job cuts leave individuals and families in desperate circumstances. Unemployment benefits and savings run out, leaving people homeless who never thought it could happen to them. (See: National Coalition for the Homeless - Employment.)

5. Foreclosure

Even people who have jobs are finding themselves upside down with their mortgages. From 2008 to 2009, foreclosures jumped by 32%. A 2009 survey estimates that as many as 10% of people seeking help from homeless organizations do so due to foreclosure.* (*Source: National Coalition for the Homeless - Foreclosure.)

6. Post-Traumatic Stress

One any given night, as many as 200,000 military veterans sleep on the street.* The percentage of veterans with post-traumatic stress is growing among those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Adapting to "normal life" back in the U.S. is proving to be extremely difficult for the men and women who have served us. Unable to cope, some choose to leave homes, loved ones and jobs behind for homelessness and/or addiction. (*Source: National Coalition for the Homeless - Veterans.)

7. Throw Away Teens

Homeless teens often become so due to family conflicts. They're kicked out or choose to run away over issues of sexual orientation, teen pregnancy, physical abuse or drug addiction. 20% of homeless teens identify as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) compared to 10% in the general population. Over 58% of these teens have been sexually abused. 62% are likely to commit suicide.* (*Source: National Coalition for the Homeless - LGBT.)

8. Relational Brokenness

A homeless person is most often a deeply hurting person. By the time they come to a homelessness organization for help, they've burned through every supportive relationship possible. Friends and family are no longer able or willing to help, leaving the homeless man or woman very much alone. What relationships they have are usually predatory. In a sense, their situation is less about homelessness and more about unwantedness. A significant barrier to recovery often lies in the ability to restore trust and maintain healthy relationships.

9. Grief

It's not uncommon to discover that the men and women in the Rescue Mission recovery program are burdened by grief. Unable to deal with the death of a loved one or other significant trauma, they numb their pain in addiction. Addiction and apathy lead to the loss of job and home. They simply stop caring if they live or die. Grief becomes a roadblock to living.

10. Despair

"Once you get down this low, it's hard to get back up," we often hear homeless men and women say. The longer they are homeless, the more difficult it becomes to combat the lies they hear in their heads. They believe there's no way out. They don't deserve another chance. They'll never break free from addiction. They'll always be a failure. More than anything, these men and women need hope.

Through the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, you can help to provide food, shelter, safety and a second chance to people in our Valley who are in crisis situations.

2010-10-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Sunday is World Homeless Day. What can you do to help the homeless in the Mahoning Valley? Read these 10 Myths About Homeless People.

More About the Second Chance Academy

2010-10-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Resident men and women enrolled in the Second Chance Academy pursue 2 instructional tracks. As part of the Learning Center, students are engaged in learning skills, remedial academics, computer literacy, and job placement skills. In addition to the Learning Center, residents attend classes and sessions that deal with spiritual and emotional issues that accompany homelessness.

Besides staff, we rely on a faithful group of volunteers to round out the instructional component of the SCA. Pastors Matt Mager and Jerry Croyts teach the men and Ms. Jeannie Rohrbaugh and Ms. Joan Farley teach the ladies.

All Mission clients attend daily chapel services conducted by staff and visiting clergy from a variety of denominational backgrounds. This further enhances the spiritual enrichment aspect of our program.

Great things are happening at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. We serve Christ and the community by offering food, safety, shelter, and a second chance.

Second Chance Academy, continued

2010-09-30T06:24:00.000-07:00

Men and women who desire to enroll in the Second Chance Academy will meet these qualifications:

Enrollment is limited single men and women.
There must be a stated willingness to obey the rules and requirements of the program.
An openness and receptivity to Christianity.
Be clean and sober from drugs and alcohol for 30 days (you can do your 30 day clean time here).
A commitment to the full 12-month program.
Take responsibility for life failures and life change.
No drug, alcohol or tobacco use.
No games - be serious about positive life change.

Next, we will introduce the courses and instructors of the Academy.

Introducing the Second Chance Academy

2010-09-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Second Chance Academy is the new resident program for clients at the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley. It is built upon our existing resident program model with new features and additional requirements.

The SCA is a 12 month in-house rehabilitation, work therapy and career development program for men and women. SCA clients participate in programs with an emphasis on the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the foundation for life change.

The SCA’s purpose and objectives are:

• To lead individuals into a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.

• To help individuals conquer their addictions.

• Restore them to their families.

• Produce productive members of society

Upon completion of program requirements, each client will “graduate” from the Academy. The requirements for graduation and the “who and what” of the program elements will be explained in subsequent posts.

A New Day

2010-09-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

This week we have begun to roll out our newly revised resident program. There are several new features that we are offering to our clients who commit to the one year program. In subsequent posts, I will explain more about this program. However, we want to assure our friends that the Rescue Mission has not changed its focus or its values. We try to closely follow our Mission statement:

The purpose of the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley is to serve and glorify God through Christ-centered outreach of love and compassion that meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of disadvantaged men, women, and children without regard to race, color, or creed.

The Mission is still your Valley's overnight emergency shelter. We still provide food, clothing, shelter, safety and a second chance to the overlooked and marginalized in our society. Thank you in advance for standing with us in ministry to those in need.

Canfield Fair - Day 3

2010-09-03T06:11:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about working at the Fair is the opportunity to meet friends and contributors to the Rescue Mission. Many of our donors give through the mail. It's great when we can put a face to caring people. Stop and visit us in the green and white commercial tent on the corner of Austintown and Goshen.

Strong and Healthy Feet

2010-09-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Foot bath in warm water - free.

Foot exam by physicians - free

Gentle foot massage - free

New pair of socks - free

The look on our clients' face after the treatment - priceless!

Thanks to Humility of Mary Community Outreach for the Strong and Healthy Feet Program. Our Mission residents were treated to a free exam yesterday, with a few perks thrown in (foot massage, goody bag). These dedicated nurses and doctors were a genuine blessing to the people who stay at the Mission. Thank you and God bless you!

Canfield Fair

2010-09-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

Today begins the 164th edition of the Canfield Fair. For more than 20 of those years, the Rescue Mission has had a presence at the Fair in the Commercial Tent. If you are going to the Fair, stop by and see us at the big green and white tent on Boardman Ave. We will give you a bright yellow bag for all of your Fair “goodies,” a smile, and a “Thank you” for your support during the year. Pictured are volunteers Luke Chambers and Mitchell Barcey. Thanks, guys, for helping at the Fair.

Back to School

2010-08-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

It's back to school time, even for the kids who stay at the Rescue Mission. Eight children caught the bus for school this morning. Our generous donors and partners make it possible for our children to start school with book bags, uniforms, and school supplies. Thank you for your help in getting our children off to a great start for the new school year.

2010-08-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

There is seldom a dull day at the Rescue Mission. Our client population is on the rise, with counts in the 60's and 70's for the past week. Last night, we sheltered 79 guests. Maybe its the economy, the job market, or the fallout from poor life choices. Whatever the causes of homelessness, your Rescue Mission will be ready to provide food, safety, shelter and a second chance to those who seek our help.

Thank you to all who make this possible. Some donate financial resources, some donate volunteer time, some donate clothing and non-perishable food items. All these generous gifts make possible the work that goes on under this roof.

Back to School

2010-08-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is back to school time in the Mahoning Valley. Some schools began today, and in the next 2 weeks, all of the schools in the Valley will officially be underway. This is a busy time for the families who stay at the Rescue Mission. Consider this: if you have school aged children, you know the excitement and activity involved in getting ready to start school. There are supplies to buy, schedules to coordinate, and clothes to purchase. Now, imagine that you and your children are staying at the Rescue Mission. You have little or no means of income. Yet, your children need the same supplies and equipment that all children do. If your school has a uniform dress code policy, then you must purchase specific kinds of clothing for your children.

In our Family Services division, we ended last week with 14 children. We began this week with more families with children seeking shelter. Granted, not all of these families have school aged children, but many of them do.

We are so very grateful for those who help our Mission children with school supplies, uniforms, and backpacks. You help make going back to school as normal and routine as possible for kids who live in a homeless shelter.

The Garden Grows

2010-08-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

Our "urban garden experiment" behind our Distribution Center on Glenwood Ave is, by all appearances, doing very well. This unused back yard of the warehouse and distribution center has now become a growing and productive garden. Fresh vegetables are a welcome treat. We hope that this is but a small beginning to a larger undertaking in coming seasons.

Unexpected Guests

2010-08-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Campus Police from YSU were waiting for me as I arrived at the Mission this morning. That is never a good sign. The officer asked if we could provide a meal and showers for a group of young people who spent last night in a field on campus property. Apparently, the 4 men and 2 women (and 2 dogs) have been travelling around for some time. They came from Maryland and are on their way to Chicago. They were not asking for shelter and probably would not have come to the Mission had not the YSU police officer wanted to help them.

We took care of them as best we could, loaded them with clothes and food – at least as much as they could comfortably carry – and sent them on their way, with our prayers of course.

Lesson for the day: you never know who you might meet in the course of a day at the Rescue Mission. Thanks to Lynn, our Development Coordinator for the photo.

Moving Day

2010-08-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Read the story of Dorothy, one of our clients who moved into her own apartment. It’s a great day when one who was homeless finds a home.

After nearly a year at the Mission,
Dorothy has the keys to her
own apartment.

Dorothy had only 20 cents to her name for last few months
yet she says that God sustained her by giving her
food and a place to stay at the Mission. When we asked to take a photo
of the change, she remembered that she had given
one of the dimes away to someone who needed to make a phone
call a few days ago. That's trust!

With some towels, a box of food, a TV and a beautiful new pink chair and a truck filled with other donations... Dorothy is on her way to her very own place after staying at the Mission for a year. Thank you to all of the donors who support the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. What a special lady and what blessed day!

Homeless Awareness Walk

2010-08-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Today’s Youngstown Vindicator includes a story on the front page covering yesterday’s Homeless Awareness Walk. There will be another one of these in December to kick off the Cold Weather Emergency Program. Here is the link to the Vindicator article.

As I found the link, I also read the comments posted regarding the story. Some of these expressed concern that agencies are enabling people who want to remain homeless. While it is true that some of the homeless population is homeless secondarily to mental health issues and substance abuse, it is unwise to broad brush the situation.

It is true that people are homeless because they make bad choices. People tend to be homeless because it is the price they willingly pay to continue their addiction. In that case, they are homeless because they want to be. Likewise, it is naïve to think that the homeless problem can be solved by throwing more money at the issue. While we all know that it takes money to do anything, more money is not the solution.

The agencies that are involved in the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care realize that enabling behaviors that contribute to homelessness will be counter-productive in the end. Each of them strive to correct and resolve the issues that lead to homelessness, whether that includes mental health care, drug and alcohol counseling, employment help, educational services, or religious and spiritual instruction.

Mahoning County is blessed to have such great collaboration among a diverse range of agencies.

Congratulations, Ian

2010-08-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend Ian Spooner left the building. For those who know Ian, this was a great day. For those who don’t, here is his story.

Ian came to us about 3 years ago as a troubled 20 year old. He was estranged from his family and was facing prison time on federal charges of drug possession and dealing. To say he was troubled is an understatement. Ian had an explosive temper and distinct problems with social interaction. All of this was hidden under a disarmingly innocent baby face.

Ian struggled his first months here, but had no place else to go. He was forced to make a go of it. But Ian is the kind of person who, when he buys into something, does so in a big way. Soon we all began to see changes in Ian’s behavior.

What was gradually becoming obvious to the staff was blatantly obvious to those who had not seen Ian for a time. When we took him for a pre-trial hearing, his family attorney remarked at the physical difference he saw in Ian, not to mention the change in his emotional responses. The lawyer, who had known the family for years, remarked, “I never would have believed that this could be the same person.”

Ian had entered the Christian Discipleship Program at the Mission, and had found forgiveness of sins through Christ as his Savior. Twelve months later, Ian completed the program and stayed on for after care and follow up. With his legal issues settled, he found a job – no small undertaking in the Mahoning Valley – purchased a car, and rented an apartment. With the help of men from the Mission and from the church where he is an active member, he moved into his apartment this weekend.

God bless you, Ian. You have blessed us far more than we have blessed you.

Remember the Children

2010-08-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today, one of our donors gave a generous gift designated to buy shoes for the children who stay at the Mission. This is the time when stores and families are gearing up for back-to-school shopping. Remember that there are children who live at the Mission who also will be going back to school. Instead of shopping in the mall, they will make do with what they have.

So far in calendar year 2010, 67 children aged 17 and younger have stayed at your Rescue Mission. Most of these have been school age; many are toddlers, some are infants and a few were newborns. Thanks to all those who support the work of the Mission in the lives of God’s little ones.

Donation?

2010-08-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

Every day, people drop off donations at our Warehouse located on Glenwood Ave. Usually, they leave used clothing, furniture, or non-perishable food. Yesterday, however, we received a donation that was quite different from most. I don't know what the donors thought that we would do with them, but we were able to find homes for them. Note to potential donors: no pets, please.

Mission Picnic

2010-07-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, the Rescue Mission held its annual staff/client/volunteer picnic. During that time, the Mission presented the "Servant's Heart Award" to several of our faithful volunteers. You can read the Youngstown Vindicator article here.

Garden Spot

2010-07-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

At our warehouse facility on Glenwood Ave., we are participating in the community gardens project. Here are some photos of that “backyard” project which hopes to provide fresh vegetables to under served individuals in the city. One of the goals is to inspire interested individuals to begin similar projects.

Picnic

2010-07-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

It has been a long while since our last post. So sorry for the lapse.

Tomorrow will be our annual staff/resident/volunteer picnic at Boardman Park. This is a great time for all of our clients to get out of the building, enjoy some fresh air, games, fun, and of course, good food. I will post some pictures of the festivities in the coming days.

Pray for good weather. We have had to cancel the picnic before due to rain. If you are a friend of the Mission, stop by and see us. We may have a burnt hot dog to share.

A Pressing Concern

2010-05-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

This recent report in USA Today addresses an increasing concern among homeless providers; where do homeless people with mental health issues find help? In this report, Summit County and Akron are mentioned. The problem is nationwide. There is no practical answer on the horizon.

Last Night

2010-04-26T09:56:00.001-07:00

This appeared on Facebook:

Last night 61 people found shelter at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. (Of those 61 people, 8 were children.) Right now we are collecting new undergarments for all sizes of men, women and children. If you or a group are able to help - please let us know! Have a blessed Monday.

HPRP

2010-04-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this link to a NY Times article about HUD's Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). This program has been in place in Mahoning County since last year and is administered through the Catholic Charities Regional Agency. Here is but another example of agency collaboration to address homelessness in our community.

Dinner Theater Photos

2010-04-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from Friday's Dinner Theater, "My Name Is Ruth" by 34 West

My Name is Ruth

2010-04-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to hear Moody Radio's interview with Stephen Baldwin of 34West and author of My Name Is Ruth. This will be presented this evening as a Dinner Theatre to raise funds for the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley. I understand that there are still reservations available.

Good Friday

2010-04-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Good Friday is always a special time at the Mission. At 8:00 AM, we invite all clients and staff into the dining room for a time of worship celebrating the crucifixion of our Lord. Our speaker this year was Pastor Matt Mager of Sovereign Grace Chapel. Matt and the church family have been very involved in the lives of the people who stay at the Mission.

It was a great message focusing on 3 of the 7 last words of the Savior from the cross. Thanks, Pastor Matt for bring to us the Word so clearly and powerfully.

Cold Weather Program Ends

2010-04-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Cold Weather Emergency Program ended today. This collaborative effort with Help Hotline brings together many agencies with a single purpose: to see that no one in Mahoning County freezes to death during the winter months. The Mission is the designated shelter for the Cold Weather Program. This year (December 2009 – March 2010), overnight stays for single men, single women, and families were:

December – 819
January – 1080
February – 1071
March – 1384

This amounts to a seasonal total of 4354 overnight stays. Note that these figures are for those who come to the Mission under the Help Hotline program. These are in addition to clients who are in the Mission’s regular programs.

Here’s the point: in the Mahoning Valley homelessness is - unfortunately – alive and well. We do not always see evidence of the problem (street people, encampments, etc) but it exists.

Dinner Theater

2010-04-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to read about 34West's presentation for the Rescue Mission:

34west comes to the rescue - Vindy.com, The Vindicator Local News Youngstown OH

Encouraging Words

2010-03-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

The following is a letter recently received from a former client at the Mission:

Dear Rev. Sherrard,

Hello! This is (name withheld). I was a resident at the Mission in the late 1990s. I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much I have always appreciated the opportunity (and the memories) that you gave me, through God. The time I've spent at the Mission will always be treasured as a vital turning point in my life. Even after the Mission, I had a few bumps in the road, but have recovered.

I am blessed to have a career as a 911 Critical Care Paramedic where I work for a very progressive company, XXXXXX EMS in Citrus County Florida. I am known for being able to "get along" with just about anyone from every walk of life. God made it possible for me to spend a part of my life at the Mission for many reasons, I cannot name them all, but I know that I wouldn't be as empathetic to some of the troubled brothers and sisters that I come into contact with every day if I did not experience life at the Mission. Again, thank you and God Bless.

(Name withheld)

PS: Remember when you were going to kick me out for losing my temper and cutting my arms on the upstairs glass? I sure am glad God spoke to you that Day!!

How encouraging it is to hear from someone who came through the Mission, "made it," and is still on track.

Health Care Reform

2010-03-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the recently passed legislation on health care reform, it is hard to remain neutral. Fewer issues have so polarized the nation.

Politics and preferences aside, the concern for those who work with the homeless population naturally turns to those who are often left out of the discussion: the indigent homeless. How will health care reform impact the individual who has no income, no permanent dwelling, no public assistance, or no other resources?

Writing in the July 31st edition of the Washington Post, Alexi Mostrous quoted Michael Stoop of the National Coalition for Homelessness saying that 70% of homeless people are uninsured with only 25% eligible for Medicaid.

Commenting on the passing of the Health Care Reform Bill, The National Alliance to End Homelessness posted this on March 22, 2010:

Moreover, the legislation will also provide approximately $10 billion for community health centers for Fiscal Years (FY) 2011 through 2015. Typically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocates 8.7 percent of total community health center funding toward the Health Care for the Homeless program, which can be used to provide services to people in permanent supportive housing. The health care legislation also expands early childhood home visitation programs, which provide parent education, child development, and support services to low-income, at-risk young children and their families.

At first glance, it appears that there will be very little advantage to the indigent population in the short term. We will wait and see what develops.

Graduation

2010-03-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

It's always a great time when we hold a graduation ceremony for one of our resident clients. Earnest White Jr. graduated today from the Christian Discipleship Program at the Rescue Mission. He has devoted one year to academic and spiritual instruction, work therapy, and investment in character building. Earnest leaves the Mission clean and sober with an outstanding testimony for Christ. Congratulations and God bless, Earnest White.

Rescue

2010-03-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

What first pops into your mind when you see the word “Rescue Mission?” Often, the image is one of a flop house where people, mostly men, are stretched out all day on cots sleeping off a drunk or a high from the night before. Mission workers are pictured as those who go from cot to cot offering a kind word, clean clothes, a bowl of soup, or a cup of coffee.

The reality is much different. For the most part, Missions are not like the stereotypical homeless shelter. Rescue Missions offer the opportunity to change one’s life, not merely to provide a bed for those who desire to continue their destructive lifestyle. Rescue Missions are about rescue. They are not content to supply the drowning person with life preservers to keep them from drowning. Ideally, they want to pull the drowning person from the water and put them on dry land.

This is hard work. It involves extending oneself into the life of a stranger, helping him or her to overcome addictive behaviors, providing opportunities to re-learn responsible behavior, and showing genuine compassion for the individual. Most importantly, it is about presenting the opportunity for inner change that comes through the power of God.

Rescue Missions are gospel rescue missions. I realize that this may offend some who might read these words, but the core of the work we do at the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley is to present the gospel of Christ while we address the external needs and life situations of those who come to us for help.

The Mission statement of the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley includes all of these functions. It reads:

The purpose of the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley is to serve and glorify God through Christ-centered outreach of love and compassion that meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of disadvantaged men, women, and children without regard to race, color, or creed.

Graduation

2010-03-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, March 24, we will gather at the Rescue Mission's Resident Building, 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., for the graduation of Ernest White Jr. Ernest will complete the Mission's Christian Discipleship Program. This program involves a 1 year commitment, remedial academic study, work therapy, and intensive Bible study.

If you are a friend of the Mission and are in the area, consider this your invitation to attend this milestone in Ernest's life. The service will begin at 8:00 am in the chapel on MLK Blvd. Dr. Bill Finnigan, our longtime Director of Biblical Instruction will present the challenge.

Cold Weather Program

2010-03-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

The Cold Weather Emergency Program is drawing to a close. It ends on March. 31. As of today, there have been 3371 overnight stays at the Rescue Mission. On behalf of those who were able to escape the brutal February snows, thanks to all who make this program possible.

Beyond the Data

2010-02-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

This information was just released from the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. See "Beyond the Data:COHHIO Issues Brief."

Ohio families are increasingly vulnerable, facing growing unemployment and poverty.
Ohio families entering shelters are presenting with decreasing monthly income and more complicated situations overall, including higher rates of underemployment and unemployment.
Yet, Ohio communities are largely not reporting increases in family homelessness.

Cold Weather Emergency Program - Part 4

2010-02-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

The threat of another winter storm reminds us of the purpose of the Cold Weather Emergency Program, namely that no one freezes to death in Mahoning county. That this is a present concern, note this from the National Coalition for the Homeless:

Seven hundred people experiencing or at risk of homelessness are killed from hypothermia annually in the United States. Forty-four percent of the nation’s homeless are unsheltered. From the urban streets of our populated cities to the remote back-country of rural America, hypothermia - or subnormal temperature in the body - remains a leading, critical and preventable cause of injury and death among those experiencing homelessness.

Congratulations

2010-02-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Janice, the most recent graduate of the Women’s Residence/Discipleship Program. She has completed the 1 year program at the Mission and is looking to move into her own apartment this month. Janice has made great progress and we are proud of her.

Point-in-Time Count - News Story

2010-01-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to see the local coverage for the Mahoning Valley's efforts in the Ohio state-wide point-in-time count of homeless people in our community.

Point-in-Time Count

2010-01-25T03:17:00.000-08:00

We are participating in the Statewide Point in Time Count on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 12:00 AM - 11:59PM. Beginning at midnight tonight, volunteers from many agencies will hit the streets, shelters, soup kitchens, bus terminal, and anywhere the homeless may congregate attempting to count unsheltered homeless people in our community. If you have any information to share or would like to help, please contact Erin Bishop, the coordinator of the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care.

Who is Homeless?

2010-01-20T16:17:00.000-08:00

DEMOGRAPHICS - Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty.

AGE - In 2003, children under the age of 18 accounted for 39% of the homeless population; 42% of these children were under the age of five (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2004).

GENDER - Most studies show that single homeless adults are more likely to be male than female. In 2007, a survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that of the population surveyed 35% of the homeless people who are members of households with children are male while 65% of these people are females. However, 67.5% of the single homeless population is male, and it is this single population that makes up 76% of the homeless populations surveyed (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2007).

FAMILIES - The number of homeless families with children has increased significantly over the past decade. Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population.

ETHNICITY - In its 2006 survey of 25 cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayor found that the sheltered homeless population is estimated to be 42 percent African-American, 38 percent white, 20 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Native American and 2 percent Asian.

VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - 50% of the 24 cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence.

VETERANS - Veterans are slightly over-represented among the homeless population compared to their prevalence in the overall population (11.2 percent) (U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008).

PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS - Persons with severe mental illness represented about 26 percent of all sheltered homeless persons (Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, 2008).

PERSONS SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION DISORDERS - While there is no generally accepted "magic number" with respect to the prevalence of addiction disorders among homeless adults, the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ number in 2005 was 30%. Among surveyed homeless people 38% have an alcohol problem, and 26% report problems with other drugs (National Health Care for the Homeless Council).

EMPLOYMENT - The U.S. Conference of Mayors' 2005 survey of 24 American cities found that 13% of the urban homeless population were employed (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005), though recent surveys by the U.S. Conference of Mayors have reported as high as 25%. In a number of cities not surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors - as well as in many states - the percentage is even higher (National Coalition for the Homeless, 1997). When asked to identify the three main causes of hunger in their city, 83 percent of cities cited poverty, 74 percent cited unemployment and 57 percent cited the high cost of housing.

IMPLICATIONS - As this fact sheet makes clear, people who become homeless do not fit one general description. However, people experiencing homelessness do have certain shared basic needs, including affordable housing, adequate incomes, and health care. Some homeless people may need additional services such as mental health or drug treatment in order to remain securely housed. All of these needs must be met to prevent and to end homelessness.

Information taken from the National Coalition for the Homeless Fact Sheet.

Remember Haiti

2010-01-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

There has been some discussion in the media regarding the cause of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12. One Christian leader attributes the cause to Divine judgment; a well-known actor lays the blame at the door of global climate change.

While we surely do not know why things like this happen to people already struggling in the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, we do know that there is a desperate need for help. It is in times such as this that we see the best in our culture and in our people. The path to recovery will be slow and hard and will last long after the story has ceased to catch the attention of the viewers of the evening news. Remember Psalm 41:1; “Blessed is the one who remembers the poor.”

(Photo from online version of Boston Globe, REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

Looking Back

2010-01-12T06:20:00.001-08:00

The last year saw the Rescue Mission once again helping the homeless and providing food, shelter, safety and a second chance to many of the disadvantaged citizens of our community. While the statistics for the fiscal year are available on our website, these numbers represent the individuals who came to the Mission for help in calendar year 2009. Of 574 intakes;

84 report alcohol abuse (33 report chronic alcohol abuse)
44 report developmental disability
82 report drug abuse (29 report chronic drug abuse)
55 report both drug and alcohol abuse
144 report mental illness (41 report chronic mental illness).

(These figures come from self-reported client intakes.)

In 2010, the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley begins its 117th year of service to the Valley. We cannot do everything, and we cannot do what we do alone. The challenge requires all of our efforts to meet the needs of the homeless in our Valley.

Soup Kitchen

2010-01-08T05:29:00.000-08:00

According to this website, on this date in 1800, "the first soup kitchens in London were opened to serve the poor." Serving people in need has a long history in England and America. Inventor Benjamin Thompson, aka Count Rumsford, is credited with originating the 1st soup kitchen in America prior to the American Revolution.

Cold Weather Emergency Program - Part 3

2010-01-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

I just ran the numbers for December, the 1st month of the Cold Weather Emergency Program for 2009-2010. The Rescue Mission has logged 820 overnight stays for the program for December.

This is not 820 different people. Overnight stays represent one person who stays one night. So, for 1 person who stays each night of the month, that amounts to 31 overnight stays. 820 stays amounts to a lot of services provided to people who might otherwise have no place to sleep during the cold.

Out of the Cold

2010-01-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Warren Tribune Chronicle has a story about the Rescue Mission on page 1 of today's paper. Two of our residents are interviewed. Read the story online here.

Brutal Cold

2010-01-02T09:50:00.001-08:00

My computer tells me that the temperature at the National Weather Service office is 17 degrees F, and with the wind chill it feels like 1 degree F. This morning, my wife and I were driving near an area where homeless people have been known to encamp. Surely, I thought, the area would be vacant. To my surprise (though I am not really surprised), there were snow covered tents announcing that people were still camping there.

I know that no unsheltered people will read this blog, but I have been reminded lately that there are many people in the community who are unaware of the Help Hotline number and the services it provides. The more who know, the more that the good word can be spread. This is brutal weather to be unsheltered. There is a warm place to sleep tonight and it is as close as dialing 211.

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T10:40:00.000-08:00

From the staff of the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, Happy and Blessed New Year. Please remember that homelessness knows no season.

Cold Weather Emergency Program - Part 3

2009-12-29T07:30:00.001-08:00

Because of the news story referenced below, I had a great opportunity to share the Help Hotline number yesterday. It is to prevent these kind of occurrances that Help Hotline was established 20 years ago. Help spread the word.

Recent Death of Homeless Woman Prompts Concern

Posted using ShareThis

Hats for the Homeless

2009-12-24T07:01:00.001-08:00

Patti Adams, a letter carrier from Hubbard, presented homemade hats to the residents at the Rescue Mission. Follow the link to read the story from the Youngstown Vindicator.

Woman crochets hats for the city’s homeless - Local & Regional News - Vindy.com, The Vindicator

Posted using ShareThis

Quaker Steak and Lube

2009-12-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

On Monday, the staff of Quaker Steak and Lube in Austintown provided a Christmas dinner for the residents of the Rescue Mission. This is the 2nd year for this event and the residents love the opportunity to dine out. Thank you, Shannon Kizima-Jewell and Quaker Steak staff who volunteered your personal time to provide with the meal.

Christmas Party

2009-12-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

Each year the staff and management of Coca-Cola provides a special Christmas treat for the residents of the Mission. Yesterday afternoon (Dec. 22), the good people from Coke brought a special visitor from the North Pole to distribute gifts. Thanks, Coca-Cola Distributors of Youngstown.

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

Twenty years ago, Winter Wonderland came into being at the Rescue Mission. The idea was born to provide homeless people with the opportunity to give at Christmas. Mission residents are permitted to shop for family members who may or may not be with them at the shelter. This year, Winter Wonderland was on Dec. 19. We could not do this without the help of a committed group of volunteers. Special thanks go to the Youth of Greenford Christian Church and to Carol (Santa) Perkins.

Bridges, not Barriers

2009-12-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

It was great to see more than 100 attend the Bridges Out of Poverty Training yesterday. The Mahoning Valley is second to none in extending compassionate care to the disadvantaged in our community.

Two Spruce Up Rescue Mission Lobby for Holidays - WKBN - 27 First News - Local News - Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana, Ohio - Sharon, Pennsylvania

2009-12-16T10:40:00.001-08:00

Two Spruce Up Rescue Mission Lobby for Holidays - WKBN - 27 First News - Local News - Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana, Ohio - Sharon, Pennsylvania

Posted using ShareThis

Why Are People Homeless - Part 3

2009-12-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

OTHER FACTORS

Particularly within the context of poverty and the lack of affordable housing, certain additional factors may push people into homelessness. Other major factors, which can contribute to homelessness, include the following:

Lack of Affordable Health Care: For families and individuals struggling to pay the rent, a serious illness or disability can start a downward spiral into homelessness, beginning with a lost job, depletion of savings to pay for care, and eventual eviction. One in three Americans, or 86.7 million people, is uninsured. Of those uninsured, 30.7% are under eighteen. In 2007-2008, four out of five people that were uninsured were working families. Work-based health insurance has become rarer in recent years, especially for workers in the agricultural or service sectors (Families USA, 2009).

Domestic Violence: Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. In addition, 50% of the cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their adult lives (Network to End Domestic Violence).

Mental Illness: Approximately 16% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Despite the disproportionate number of severely mentally ill people among the homeless population, increases in homelessness are not attributable to the release of severely mentally ill people from institutions. Most patients were released from mental hospitals in the 1950s and 1960s, yet vast increases in homelessness did not occur until the 1980s, when incomes and housing options for those living on the margins began to diminish rapidly. According to the 2003 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Report, most homeless persons with mental illness do not need to be institutionalized, but can live in the community with the appropriate supportive housing options (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003). However, many mentally ill homeless people are unable to obtain access to supportive housing and/or other treatment services. The mental health support services most needed include case management, housing, and treatment.

Addiction Disorders: The relationship between addiction and homelessness is complex and controversial. While rates of alcohol and drug abuse are disproportionately high among the homeless population, the increase in homelessness over the past two decades cannot be explained by addiction alone. Many people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs never become homeless, but people who are poor and addicted are clearly at increased risk of homelessness. Addiction does increase the risk of displacement for the precariously housed; in the absence of appropriate treatment, it may doom one's chances of getting housing once on the streets. Homeless people often face insurmountable barriers to obtaining health care, including addictive disorder treatment services and recovery supports.

CONCLUSION

Homelessness results from a complex set of circumstances that require people to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Only a concerted effort to ensure jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for those who cannot work, affordable housing, and access to health care will bring an end to homelessness.

Why Are People Homeless - Part 2

2009-12-15T04:32:00.000-08:00

Two factors help account for increasing poverty: eroding employment opportunities for large segments of the workforce and the declining value and availability of public assistance.

ERODING WORK OPPORTUNITIES
Reasons why homelessness persists include stagnant or falling incomes and less secure jobs which offer fewer benefits.

Low-wage workers have been particularly have been left behind as the disparity between rich and poor has mushroomed. To compound the problem, the real value of the minimum wage in 2004 was 26% less than in 1979 (The Economic Policy Institute, 2005). Factors contributing to wage declines include a steep drop in the number and bargaining power of unionized workers; erosion in the value of the minimum wage; a decline in manufacturing jobs and the corresponding expansion of lower-paying service-sector employment; globalization; and increased nonstandard work, such as temporary and part-time employment (Mishel, Bernstein, and Schmitt, 1999). To combat this, Congress has planned a gradual minimum wage increase, resulting in minimum wage raised to $9.50 by 2011.

Declining wages, in turn, have put housing out of reach for many workers: in every state, more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.1 A recent U.S. Conference of Mayors report stated that in every state more than the minimum-wage is required to afford a one or two-bedroom apartment at 30% of his or her income, which is the federal definition of affordable housing. Unfortunately, for 12 million Americans, more then 50% of their salaries go towards renting or housing costs, resulting in sacrifices in other essential areas like health care and savings.

The connection between impoverished workers and homelessness can be seen in homeless shelters, many of which house significant numbers of full-time wage earners. In 2007, a survey performed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that 17.4% of homeless adults in families were employed while 13% of homeless single adults or unaccompanied youth were employed. In the 2008 report, eleven out of nineteen cities reported an increased in employed homeless people. With unemployment rates remaining high, jobs are hard to find in the current economy. Even if people can find work, this does not automatically provide an escape from poverty.

DECLINE IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

The declining value and availability of public assistance is another source of increasing poverty and homelessness. Until its repeal in August 1996, the largest cash assistance program for poor families with children was the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (the federal welfare reform law) repealed the AFDC program and replaced it with a block grant program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). In 2005, TANF helped a third of the children that AFDC helped reach above the 50% poverty line. Unfortunately, TANF has not been able to kept up with inflation. In 2006-2008, TANF case load has continued to decline while food stamp caseloads have increased.

Moreover, extreme poverty is growing more common for children, especially those in female-headed and working families. This increase can be traced directly to the declining number of children lifted above one-half of the poverty line by government cash assistance for the poor (Children's Defense Fund and the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1998). As a result of loss of benefits, low wages, and unstable employment, many families leaving welfare struggle to get medical care, food, and housing.

People with disabilities, too, must struggle to obtain and maintain stable housing. In 2006, on a national average, monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment rose to $715 per month which is a 113.1% of a person’s on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly income (Priced Out in 2006). For the first time, the national average rent for a studio apartment rose above the income of a person who relies only on SSI income. Recently, only nine percent of non-institutionalized people receiving SSI receive housing assistance (Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, 2005). Most states have not replaced the old welfare system with an alternative that enables families and individuals to obtain above-poverty employment and to sustain themselves when work is not available or possible.

HOUSING

A lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs have contributed to the current housing crisis and to homelessness. According to HUD, in recent years the shortages of affordable housing are most severe for units affordable to renters with extremely low incomes. Federal support for low-income housing has fallen 49% from 1980 to 2003 (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2005). About 200,000 rental housing units are destroyed annually. Renting is one of the most viable options for low income people (Joint Center for Housing Studies).

Since 2000, the incomes of low-income households has declined as rents continue to rise (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2005). In 2009, a worker would need to earn $14.97 to afford a one-bedroom apartment and $17.84 to afford a two-bedroom apartment. There has been an increase of 41% from 2000 to 2009 in fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit, according to HUD (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2009). The lack of affordable housing has lead to high rent burdens (rents which absorb a high proportion of income), overcrowding, and substandard housing. These phenomena, in turn, have not only forced many people to become homeless; they have put a large and growing number of people at risk of becoming homeless.

Housing assistance can make the difference between stable housing, precarious housing, or no housing at all. However, the demand for assisted housing clearly exceeds the supply: only about one-third of poor renter households receive a housing subsidy from the federal, state, or a local government (Daskal, 1998). The limited level of housing assistance means that most poor families and individuals seeking housing assistance are placed on long waiting lists. Today the average wait for Section 8 Vouchers is 35 months (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2004). Excessive waiting lists for public housing mean that people must remain in shelters or inadequate housing arrangements longer. In a survey of 24 cities, people remain homeless an average of seven months, and 87% of cities reported that the length of time people are homeless has increased in recent years (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Longer stays in homeless shelters result in less shelter space available for other homeless people, who must find shelter elsewhere or live on the streets. In 2007, it was found that average stay in homeless shelters for households with children was 5.7 months, while this number is only slightly smaller for singles and unaccompanied children at 4.7 months. (The U.S. Conference for Mayors, 2007).

In 2003, the federal government spent almost twice as much in housing-related tax expenditures and direct housing assistance for households in the top income quintile than on housing subsidies for the lowest-income households (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2005). Thus, federal housing policy has not responded to the needs of low-income households, while disproportionately benefiting the wealthiest Americans.

Christmas at the Mission

2009-12-15T02:57:00.000-08:00

Be sure to watch WKBN/FOX and WYTV news today for an interview with two of our volunteers who decorated the Mission lobby for Christmas. Greta Mittereder has a live spot this morning with taped segments to show at noon, 5:00, 6:00, and 11:00.

Why Are People Homeless - Part 1

2009-12-13T06:29:00.000-08:00

This was published in July, 2009 by the National Coalition for the Homeless and is available here. I will post it in several parts:

Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Below is an overview of current poverty and housing statistics, as well as additional factors contributing to homelessness. A list of resources for further study is also provided.

FORECLOSURE
Recently, foreclosures have increased the number of people who experience homelessness. The National Coalition for the Homeless released an entire report discussing the relationship between foreclosure and homelessness. The report found that there was a 32% jump in the number of foreclosures between April 2008 and April 2009. Since the start of the recession, six million jobs have been lost. In May 2009, the official unemployment rate was 9.4%. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that 40 percent of families facing eviction due to foreclosure are renters and 7 million households living on very low incomes (31 - 50 percent of Area Median Income) are at risk of foreclosure.

POVERTY
Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income that must be dropped. If you are poor, you are essentially an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets.

In 2007, 12.5% of the U.S. population, or 37,300,00 million people, lived in poverty. The official poverty rate in 2007 was not statistically different than 2006 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2007). Children are overrepresented, composing 35.7% of people in poverty while only being 24.8% of the total population.

Economy Adding to Rescue Mission Populations

2009-12-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

This press release may be found on the AGRM website. I thought it would be of interest:

Men with children and intact families needing help on the rise

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (Nov. 25, 2009) – Gospel rescue missions across North America are working harder than ever to offer help and hope to the growing population of men, women and children—hit hard by high unemployment rates and financial struggles—experiencing hunger and homelessness for the very first time, in addition to serving the chronically homeless and addicted. The Association of Gospel Rescue Missions’ (AGRM) 20th annual Snapshot Survey of the Homeless points to this increasing need and provides insights about who gospel rescue missions are serving.

“The numbers of people now seeking services from our member missions is beyond anything we’ve seen in the past,” said AGRM President John Ashmen. “Most of our missions tell us their beds are full every night, plus they are using all the common space in their facilities to accommodate the long lines of people showing up at their doors, pleading for a warm place to sleep.”

Not surprisingly with the current economy, the number of those who were in the missions during the survey period who had lost their government benefits (22 percent) was up seven percent, and the number of people who have never before been homeless (37 percent) was up three percent.

While women with children are still by far the largest family units in need (60 percent), their involvement at gospel rescue missions decreased by 6 percent. The number of men with children (9 percent) and intact families (18 percent) both increased four percent. This could indicate that the economic situation is adding increased burdens to what would generally be considered more stable segments of the population, Ashmen said.

“The Fresno Rescue Mission and other nonprofit organizations in the community are experiencing grim statistics from the ‘working poor,’” said Larry Arce, CEO of Fresno Rescue Mission. “They are not necessarily homeless but are having a difficult time making their hard-earned dollar stretch out through the month. This has impacted every facet of our ability to give food, clothing and protective shelter.”

On the other side of the country, Chico Daniels, president/CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries in Grand Rapids, Mich., is seeing the deep impact of the downturn in the auto industry.

“Poverty is on the rise, and people are losing their homes because of job loss and downsizing,” Daniels says. “People are losing hope and that’s where gospel rescue missions come in—to restore hope to the hopeless.”

Last week, AGRM President Ashmen was in Boise, Idaho, and Fairfield, California, for the dedication of additional facilities at the cities’ rescue missions, thanks to donors’ and community leaders’ support. In both cases, the buildings will house women and children. Similar undertakings are in process in many cities across the continent.

“The challenges we are facing with serving more meals and providing more shelter are stretching us like never before,” said Dick McMillen, president of Philadelphia’s Sunday Breakfast Mission. “Thank God we just tripled the size of our kitchen/dining room. I don’t know how we could have handled the increased need otherwise.”

In other findings, the survey indicates that the overall age of those going to rescue missions is climbing. Those between 46 and 65 make up the highest age-group percentage (38 percent). In other words, the size of the baby boom generation seems to be reflected in the centers.

Additionally, the number of guests who had been homeless three or more times (22 percent) dropped three percent.

The Snapshot Survey of the Homeless, completed in October by 105 rescue missions across North America, looks at a point in time, but because it is a reoccurring survey looking at the same point in time every year, it provides excellent comparative figures and trending data.

Founded in 1913, the Colorado Springs-based Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) is North America’s oldest and largest network of independent crisis shelters and rehabilitation centers, offering radical hospitality in the name of Jesus. With approximately 275 member missions, AGRM exists to proclaim the passion of Jesus toward the hungry, homeless, abused and addicted, and to accelerate quality and effectiveness in member missions.

Every year, faith-based ministries that are members of AGRM serve approximately 42 million meals, provide more than 15 million nights of lodging, distribute more than 27 million pieces of clothing, bandage the wounds of hundreds of abuse victims, and graduate 18,000-plus homeless men and women from addiction recovery programs into productive living. For more information, see www.agrm.org, or call (800) 4RESCUE.

Open Doors

2009-12-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of the main entrance of the resident building on Martin Luther King Blvd. Whenever I see this, it reminds me that the doors of the Mission are always open, 24 hours each day, 7 days each week. On behalf of the homeless people who walk through these doors every day, I want to thank all who make these open doors possible.

Winter Coming

2009-12-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

The National Weather Service is calling for the 1st winter storm of the season to hit the Great Lakes today. While it looks as though the Youngstown area will miss the brunt of the storm, we are expecting rain, 1-2 inches of snow, and high winds.

I cannot help thinking about those who are living out in the elements. There are several “encampments” of homeless people in our area. One group has been staying near the Mahoning River in the downtown area. Another larger encampment has been seen off and on for a few years near the Austintown truck stop area.

Many of these people refuse housing. They have been approached by outreach workers from several agencies concerning shelter, but they prefer to stay where they are. They will utilize the different meal sites within the city, but they refuse shelter until the weather conditions are extreme.

Unfortunately, we cannot help everyone. However, we can help those who are homeless through circumstances over which they have little or no control: economics, family issues; house fires, etc. People will also find themselves homeless often as a secondary result of substance abuse or mental health issues.

As you enjoy the warmth of your house this week, don’t forget those who are without a warm house to enjoy.

Cold Weather Emergency Program - Part 2

2009-12-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Bob Altman, Program Director for the Cold Weather Emergency Program at Help Hotline for this submission:

The idea for the Cold Weather Program began 20 years ago when Lt. Francis Gallagher from YPD presented a dilemma to several community leaders regarding what to do about homeless persons the police find on the streets, in abandoned buildings, or huddled in doorways during the winter months. Lt. Gallagher stated that the police had been picking up these people and placing them in jail so that the individuals would not freeze to death during the bad weather. He stated that the police could no longer do this, that it was against the individuals’ rights as they had not committed a crime. The meeting included Reverend David Sherrard of the Rescue Mission, Don Griesmann of Northeast Ohio Legal Services, Neil Altman, Youngstown City Health Commissioner, Cathy Grizinski of Help Hotline, Sam Kooperman of Jewish Federation, Jack Thomas of Catholic Charities and other community persons. An additional meeting was called to discuss more fully what steps needed to be taken to combat this dilemma facing the community. The goal from the beginning was that “No one freezes to death during the winter months”. This is still the project’s singular goal.

It was decided to utilize two important community assets; the Rescue Mission and Help Hotline. Its unclear as to who came up with the idea of utilizing these resources in the manner they have been utilized over the past 20 years but the plan was for homeless persons, families and community individuals to call Help Hotline during the hours of 9:00 p.m. through 7:30 a.m. during the winter months of December 1 through March 31 in order for homeless persons and/or families to receive shelter at the Mission. The reason for this is that it freed up shelter staff to deal with the homeless there while Help Hotline would handle all the calls and then call the shelter that a homeless person/family was coming in. Often police and other entities would just drop off people at the shelter. By having a single gateway to the system, it was hoped that this would make the system work more smoothly for all concerned.

The initial year saw very little activity but that was expected as the program barely got off the ground before winter hit. Each subsequent year saw more homeless utilizing the shelter as billboards were purchased, flyers sent out and word of mouth among the homeless told everyone they saw.

Funding for the program started with the city and local organizations such as the United Way, Jewish Federation and Catholic Charities. This has continued to this day and all funding is put into operating the program. Projected bed stays for the past 20 years is over 60,000 with many of the homeless persons coming back each year.

Early on additional agencies came on board with mental health, alcohol and drug, outreach services. These agencies have strengthened the project’s mission. Statistics help to guide the project as a minimum of four meetings take place with the February meeting being a guideline as to if anything needs to be done different, although Mission and Hotline staff work very closely throughout the project. The idea of a press conference to announce the plight of the homeless in Mahoning County was started several years ago and continues to show how the community has come together. Press conferences have been held at several locations including the shelter and generally have been well attended.

Cold Weather Emergency Program - Part 1

2009-12-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

One of the projects I have planned is what I will call "blogging the Cold Weather Program." I hope to feature stories and articles relating to this collaborative project that began 20 years ago. The next CWEP (Cold Weather Emergency Program) entry will be from Bob Altman of Help Hotline, the CWEP project coordinator.

This article appeared in the Youngstown Vindicator on Wednesday, Dec.2, 2009. It is available from Vindy.com:

YOUNGSTOWN — Last winter, 263 people in Mahoning County sought emergency shelter from the cold. With the economy still struggling, there is no reason to believe that this winter season will see any fewer needing help, said Bob Altman of Help Hotline Crisis Center. Homeless individuals and families often sleep in their vehicles, abandoned buildings, doorways or anywhere they can to get out of the cold, said Altman, coordinator of the Mahoning County Cold Weather Emergency Shelter Program.

Many stay with family members or friends, but “doubling up” usually lasts only a short time as the overcrowded conditions may lead to problems, he said. The goal is that no one freezes to death because they do not have a warm place to sleep, and that was accomplished last year. The goal remains the same for this year, Altman said Tuesday, as the shelter program kicked off its 20th season with its second annual Homeless Awareness Walk.

A small group walked from the Rescue Mission on Martin Luther King Boulevard to the St. Vincent De Paul soup kitchen on Front Street to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless, particularly during the cold winter months, officials said.

The Cold Weather Emergency Shelter Program is a collaborative effort among Help Hotline, numerous community agencies and the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. Between Dec. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, 263 people were served under Mahoning County’s Cold Weather Emergency Shelter Program, needing at total of 5,026 bed stays. Of the 263, 32 were children under 18, according to the Mahoning County Homeless Continuum of Care.
The group’s mission is to assist Mahoning County’s homeless and near homeless to obtain housing, economic stability and an enhanced quality of life through comprehensive services, said Erin Bishop, coordinator. The long-range goal is that within the next decade, all people and families in the county experiencing homelessness will have a permanent, safe, decent and affordable place to call home, she said.

The Rescue Mission provides shelter at night, and the Greater Youngstown Point, 1555 Belmont Ave., offers shelter from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as facilities for laundry, showers, lunch and television, said Otha Cooper, outreach support specialist.
Anyone who needs help should call the Help Hotline Crisis Center at (800) 427-3606 or 211.

First Post

2009-12-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

City Lights is a blog about the people in the Mahoning Valley who have had some connection with the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. We want to include stories about our clients, staff, volunteers, collaborating agencies, and donors.

The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley has been in the community since 1893, and still exists to serve and glorify God through Christ centered outreach of love and compassion that meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of disadvantaged men, women, and children without regard to race, color, or creed.

As you read this blog, we welcome you to comment and share your impressions and experiences. Please keep your comments polite and suitable for a general audience. Also know that no confidential information will be published on this blog. Names will be changed to safeguard privacy issues. So, welcome to the conversation!