As homelessness rates rise, City Mission serves those in need in Washington County
Homelessness is a growing problem in Southwestern Pennsylvania and all over the United States. 2023 saw a 12% increase in the homeless population from the year before, marking a record high in the U.S. since homeless data was collected in 2007. The Wall Street Journal reports that 2024 is unfortunately on track to break that record once again.
Now is the time for homeless shelters and rescue missions across the country to step up. Local communities must join the fight by investing in these organizations. If we don’t, this disturbing trend of rising homelessness rates will continue.
The City of Washington and its surrounding communities have faithfully supported the City Mission for 83 years. The staff and leadership at the Mission are ready and willing to serve.
The City Mission reported its annual community impact results on Nov. 20. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the City Mission served 1,453 unique individuals, serving street homeless, sheltered homeless, and the working poor in the area. The Mission provided 84,912 meals, 47,288 nights of shelter, 14,319 medical clinic services, and 9,390 grocery bags to residents and community. Additionally, the Mission helped 150 homeless individuals transition into their very own homes. Their Career Training and Education Center helped 129 individuals obtain jobs.
City Mission’s compassionate and holistic residential programs and services guided their residents who stay in the program for at least 90 days to a 69% overall success rate.
Women and families are the fastest-growing homeless populations in the United States, and that impact is being felt locally as City Mission receives calls from homeless women every day. They simply do not have enough beds right now to house them all, and their waitlist continues to grow. In response to this growing need, City Mission is growing, too. Over the past year, they have been raising funds to build a new 50-bed shelter for homeless women. In May 2024, construction began on Sally’s Sanctuary, and the new facility is scheduled to open in July 2025.
“Before coming to City Mission, I was filled with fear,” said Mila, a former resident. “Since coming to the Mission, I am filled with hope.” Mila and her son, Caesar, came to City Mission with no hope. When they moved out of City Mission, Mila had a job and she and her son had their very own home.
President and CEO Diana Irey Vaughan commented on the significance of the annual impact: “City Mission continually measures the impact we are making in the lives of our residents and the community. Our mission to share Christ, to shelter, to heal, and to restore the homeless to independent living — without discrimination. Mila is just one example of the impact of the City Mission. With the opening of Sally’s Sanctuary, our new 50-bed women’s shelter, in 2025, our annual community impact will grow significantly.”
City Mission is standing up for those who have lost all hope, but they need the support of the community in order to continue the relentless work of bringing hope to the homeless.
You can help! Over the course of the next year, there will be many opportunities to support City Mission. To find out more about how you can help City Mission fulfill the growing need within the community, visit citymission.org.
About City Mission: For over 83 years, City Mission in Washington, Pa., has sheltered, healed, and restored the homeless to independent living — without discrimination. It is currently a 173-bed homeless rehabilitation facility with four distinct shelters for men, women, women with children and veterans.
City Mission’s comprehensive program addresses both short-term needs like food, shelter, and long-term needs; including drug and alcohol counseling, mental health and medical treatment, legal aid, and employment training.
City Mission’s goal is to help each man, woman, mother with children, or veteran who walks through our doors to become a healthy, productive member of society. With your help, we can help our residents renew their lives.
This has been a paid article submitted by our content partner.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.