Help Us Grow Our Mission

More Room for Families. A Path Forward for Working Guests. Hope for the Future.

Every night, men, women, and children come to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley looking for something many of us take for granted: a safe place to sleep.

Since 1893, the Lord has provided through faithful friends like you, allowing the Rescue Mission to offer shelter, meals, encouragement, and hope to people experiencing homelessness throughout the Mahoning Valley.

But today, even with our new building opened in 2021, we are facing a growing challenge.

We simply need more room.

There are nights when every available family room is full. Parents and children need shelter, but we do not have enough space to welcome them.

At the same time, some of our current guests are working full-time, saving money, and preparing to move into permanent housing—but they need a little more time and support to take that next step successfully.

That is why we are launching the Grow Our Mission Capital Campaign.

Creating More Room and a Clearer Path Forward For Families

Phase One will allow the Rescue Mission to address both needs at the same time.

PHASE ONE - PART A: Give More Families a Safe Place to Stay

We plan to expand our existing Women & Families Emergency Shelter by extending the wing to provide:

9 new emergency shelter bedrooms
Capacity for approximately 44 additional people
3 additional bathrooms

These rooms will be reserved specifically for families experiencing homelessness.

The need is real.

Imagine being a parent with nowhere safe for your children to sleep—and hearing that there is simply no room at the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley. With your help, we can change that.

Your support can help us open the door to more families when they need it most.

PHASE ONE - PART B: Helping Working Guests Take the Next Step

Phase One will also create our first Extended Stay Units, or ESUs.

These units will serve guests who are employed full-time and actively working toward independent housing.

Instead of leaving emergency shelter before they are financially prepared, these guests will have additional time to build a stronger foundation.

While living in an Extended Stay Unit, participants will work toward goals such as:

Creating and following a realistic budget
Paying down debt
Building savings
Receiving monthly financial coaching
Preparing for the costs of independent housing

The goal is not simply to help someone leave the shelter. The goal is to help them move from homelessness to a stable home with the financial tools needed to stay there.

As guests transition into Extended Stay Units, additional emergency shelter beds will also become available for others who urgently need a safe place to stay.

Looking Ahead

Phase One is only the beginning.

Once the first phase is complete, the Rescue Mission plans to move forward with Phase Two, which will include additional Extended Stay Units on property already owned by the Mission directly across from our Emergency Shelter.

Each phase will move forward as the Lord provides the necessary funding.

You Can Help Make Room

This campaign is about more than construction.

It is about the mother who needs a safe room for her children tonight.
It is about the working guest who needs a few more months to save enough for an apartment.
It is about making room for the next person who walks through our doors asking for help.
And it is about giving people the opportunity to move forward with dignity, responsibility, and hope.

We are prayerfully asking individuals, churches, businesses, foundations, and friends throughout the Mahoning Valley to partner with us as we Grow Our Mission.

Your gift can help create:

More beds.
More opportunity.
More stability.
More hope.

Together, we can help people move from crisis toward a stronger and more stable future.

Will You Help Us Grow Our Mission?

We would be honored to talk with you personally about the campaign, the plans for expansion, and the many ways you can participate.

Thank you for standing with the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and helping us continue the work the Lord has entrusted to us.

Together, we can Grow Our Mission—one bed, one family, and one future at a time.

As part of our dedication to “Promoting Accountability” among our guests, one of our goals is to help our working clients transition from homelessness to homeownership through our Homeless to Home Owner Program.

By adding up to 18 three-bedroom extended stay housing units on property already owned by the Mission at the corner of Oakland Ave and Flemming Street, we aim to provide not just transitional housing, but a true sense of home as our guests learn and demonstrate financial responsibility.

The ultimate goal for each participant is to work up enough savings to be in a position to purchase a home of their own and move on from Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley.

CASE STUDY: Kevin came to the Mission as a client, successfully completed our programs, and ultimately became a staff member in our kitchen for several years. A few years back he moved out of the Mission to a place of his own and on to a new career locally. People like Kevin are great candidates for our new Homeless to Homeowner Program.

Donate To Grow Our Mission!

Download a Grow Our Mission Pledge Form

Phase 1 - Part B Additional Emergency Family Wing

Here is the "why." This log reveals a significant story. During a span of 17 days, our Women’s and Family Department recorded requests for “family shelter” when the Mission reached capacity. In total, 28 calls were received, indicating that 22 adults and 65 children were unable to find housing at the Mission.

By introducing an additional emergency wing with eight rooms specifically for FAMILIES, we can create a meaningful impact, ensuring that these families remain together, safe, and sheltered.