Courtesy: The Rescue Mission
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Fort Wayne Rescue Mission recently extended emergency shelter services and mental health support to women and children.
The expansion was in response to changes in other area social service agencies’ programs and the end of the community’s winter weather contingency plan, which ran from December 22 through March 1, 2022. The Rescue Mission began sheltering women at the men’s facility (404 E. Washington Blvd.) in a secured area of the building on March 1, 2022.
“There was a large gap within our community that we could not allow to continue,” said Dusty Krause, Sr. VP of Program Operations at The Rescue Mission. “We couldn’t accept the fact that women and children were left to fend for themselves at night in this community. It was never a question of if we would help; it was how.” Krause continued, “When we began offering these services, we had no idea what to expect or what kind of need existed in the community. We quickly realized the need was extensive, not only for emergency shelter but mental health support, as well.” Krause said, “Before we took on the additional responsibility, we wanted to ensure the women’s safety in a men’s facility. We also wanted to ensure we could offer these individuals the dignity they deserve and a chance for real change here at The Rescue Mission.”
After completing a needs assessment at the 404 E Washington Blvd. facility, some women will be relocated to The Rescue Mission’s Charis House location at 431 Fairmount Pl. Charis House, a women and children’s ministry of The Rescue Mission, provides a temporary residence for up to twenty-four months with additional support services to help stabilize the lives of women and children experiencing a homeless crisis.
The current building for women and children at 431 Fairmount has a limited capacity of around 75 beds. Surrounding buildings and Riverfront Fort Wayne development also restrict any future expansion of the existing structure. To accommodate the rising demand for women and children’s emergency services, The Rescue Mission says that it recently entered into an agreement with YWCA Northeast Indiana to purchase the property at 5920 Decatur Rd.
The Rescue Mission released the following:
“Because of other emergency programs that were available in the community, the current Charis House location and program were designed to address the more long-term, root causes of homelessness,” said Karla Lipsey, Sr. VP of Program Operations at Charis House. “However, the gap in services for women and children experiencing a homeless crisis is widening, so we are doing everything that we can to meet the growing need.”
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, emergency shelters are often where people experiencing financial distress or a homeless crisis first turn for help. Poverty, unemployment, and lack of affordable housing are commonly recognized causes of homelessness. Mental and substance use disorders, trauma and violence, domestic violence, serious illness, divorce, death of a partner, and physical or mental disabilities exacerbate the homelessness crisis. Transitional or supportive housing and homeless shelters can help stabilize people with mental health issues and substance use disorders who are also experiencing homelessness.
The Rescue Mission has been serving nearly three times the number of individuals and families than in previous years. Increased demand and the most recent expansion of emergency services create challenges for the organization.
“The increase in numbers of individuals and families seeking our services has created additional strain on our staff and resources,” said Krause. “Even when stretched thin to meet demand, our number one concern has always been for those we serve, both on a daily and programmatic basis.”
