The Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley released its 2025 Impact Report on Wednesday, detailing a year of increased service delivery as it works to address rising housing demands through new transitional living projects.

The report, which covers the fiscal period from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, indicates that the organization provided 57,879 nights of shelter to 1,026 men, women, and children seeking emergency housing in the Mahoning Valley. In addition to housing, the Mission served 130,617 meals to residents and members of the public.

John Muckridge III, president and CEO of the Rescue Mission, said the organization views these statistics as a reflection of community support.

"Every meal served and every bed provided is an opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel," Muckridge said. "We thank the Lord for His faithfulness and for every person who answered His call to give, serve, and pray."

The Mission’s operations were supported by approximately $3.6 million in financial contributions and $352,102 in in-kind donations. According to the report, these funds sustain the organization’s Christ-centered programs, which include emergency shelter, food services, and biblical guidance.

Volunteer participation remained a significant component of the Mission’s daily operations. During the 2025 fiscal year, 717 volunteers and 61 community groups contributed a total of 8,637 hours of service.

These resources support a 50,000-square-foot facility located at 1300 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The building, which opened in late 2021, currently houses 186 beds. The layout is divided to accommodate different demographics, with 100 beds designated for men and 86 beds reserved for women and families.

While emergency services remain the core of the Mission's work, the organization is still concerned about the long-term outcomes for those experiencing homelessness. The Mission provides workforce assistance to help guests secure stable employment and permanent housing.

One former guest, Debra, shared in the report that her time at the Mission served as a period of personal reconstruction after she lost her home. She noted that the facility provided an environment where she could focus on her faith and the next practical steps.

To facilitate these transitions, the Mission has begun moving forward with its "Grow Our Mission" project. This expansion aims to utilize the organization's 9.5 acres of land to create a centralized hub for social services and housing.

The expansion plans involve two primary phases. The first phase focuses on the immediate need for emergency family housing. In October, Muckridge noted that the Mission was forced to turn some families away because the current facility had reached capacity.

"There has been, unfortunately, a falling away from the family unit," Muckridge said, explaining the need for more specialized space.

Plans are currently being finalized to add eight to 10 additional rooms to the main building. These rooms will specifically serve women and children in emergencies.

The second phase of the expansion involves the construction of transitional homes on empty land adjacent to the main building and on lots of two donated homes scheduled for demolition. These homes are designed for singles or families who are ready to move toward independence.

Occupants of the transitional homes will be required to maintain full-time employment and meet weekly with Mission administrators to manage debt reduction. Muckridge said the goal is for these residents to eventually transition into homes they purchase themselves.

The Rescue Mission has operated in Youngstown since 1893. For much of its history, it functioned out of a 27,000-square-foot structure built in 1930. The move to the current, larger facility in 2021 was the result of a multi-year "Move Our Mission" fundraising campaign.

The current facility is debt-free, a status the Mission attributes to community generosity. As the organization looks toward 2026, it is seeking donors to fund the upcoming transitional housing and emergency room additions.

The dining hall at the current facility, which seats 90 people, continues to serve three meals daily, 365 days a year. These meals are available to both overnight guests and the public, functioning as a primary point of contact for individuals in the community facing food insecurity.

The Rescue Mission remains one of the primary providers of emergency shelter in the region that does not charge for its services, relying instead on private donations and community partnerships to maintain its "free of charge" policy for guests.