鈥楻estoring lives鈥�: City Mission presents impact review
Homelessness continues to be a growing problem, and Washington City Mission pledges to continue efforts to combat it and serve those in need.
The mission presented its 鈥淩estoring Lives鈥� impact review Wednesday at its chapel on West Wheeling Street in Washington.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a tremendous need to serve the unsheltered in our community,鈥� said Diana Irey Vaughan, President/CEO of City Mission. 鈥淥ur goal is to help everybody who comes to the City Mission to move from a life of crisis to a thriving life of hope in Christ.鈥�
In 2023, there was a 12% increase in the nation鈥檚 homeless population, marking a record high since homeless data was collected in 2007. The Wall Street Journal reports that 2024 is on track to break that record again.
Women and families are currently the fastest-growing homeless populations in the United States. City Mission is feeling that impact, receiving calls from homeless women every day.
The lack of beds to meet the demands of a growing waitlist prompted the construction of Sally鈥檚 Sanctuary, a 50-bed shelter for homeless women, which is scheduled to open in July 2025.
Trisha Schum, director of development, said the project carries an $8.4 million price tag, $7.8 million of which has already been raised. Additional grants are being sought.
鈥淚t鈥檚 heartbreaking the number of women who call every day that we have to turn away,鈥� Irey Vaughan said. 鈥淲ith the opening of Sally鈥檚 Sanctuary, our annual community impact will grow.鈥�
Leah Dietrich, director of residential programs, provided some statistics to support the mission鈥檚 impact from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30.
In that fiscal year, the mission served 1,453 unique individuals 鈥� the street homeless, sheltered homeless and 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, 150 homeless individuals were transitioned into their own homes.
The Career Training and Education Center helped 129 individuals obtain jobs.
Also, City Mission鈥檚 holistic residential programs and services guided residents who stay in the program for at least 90 days to a 69% overall success rate. The average length of stay was 171 days.
鈥淲e鈥檙e continually looking for ways to improve our program and to have an even bigger impact in the community,鈥� Dietrich said. 鈥淥ur goal ultimately is independent living for each individual who walks through these doors. Oftentimes people think of shelters as a place when you鈥檙e cold you have a place to stay. That鈥檚 not what we鈥檙e about at City Mission. We鈥檙e about empowering the individual by supporting them and providing them with services and care. Giving them a place to feel loved and welcomed is critical to what we do.鈥�
Testimony was offered Wednesday from two former residents of the City Mission and how the organization helped them.
Dave Green shared his story of arriving at the mission in November 2017 as a 鈥渂roken individual鈥� with health issues and addictions to drugs and alcohol. He said he鈥檚 been sober for seven years.
鈥淚t gave me a whole new lease on life,鈥� Green said. 鈥淲hen I got here, I was fresh out of treatment. I knew with 20 years of addiction I needed something more long term to become stable. I knew I wanted to get my life back, I just didn鈥檛 know how to do it on my own. I came here and they loved me with open arms. When you鈥檙e in that dark lifestyle, there鈥檚 no love there. I forgot what it was like to feel loved and to love myself. It was a game changer for me.鈥�
Green now works as the coordinator for the men鈥檚 residential program for the mission.
A former resident who appeared on video came to the mission with her son.
鈥淏efore coming to City Mission, I was filled with fear,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince coming to the mission, I am filled with hope.鈥�
When they moved out of City Mission, the woman had a job, and she and her son had their own home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a good reminder of why we do what we do every day,鈥� Dietrich said. 鈥淭here are days that we see great successes and there鈥檚 days where we have really hard days. So often I have former residents who go into helping professions and want to do more. It鈥檚 so rewarding to see that transformation.鈥�
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