Gateway Center (Emergency Shelter) Admissions at 10-year High

For Immediate Release
6-30-2011

The Allentown Rescue Mission says it is experiencing a surge in the number of homeless people seeking services at its Emergency Shelter. The Mission operates the Gateway Center, a shelter for homeless men.

Although homelessness is not a cold weather problem, the public is usually more aware of homelessness when temperatures become life-threateningly cold. Still, the numbers of homeless men seeking help at the Mission generally drop a bit with the warmer weather, partly due the availability of seasonal employment, but that hasn’t happened this year.

“Our homeless shelter admissions are at a 10-year high,” says Gary Millspaugh, the Executive Director of the Allentown Rescue Mission. “In the past 12 months, 852 men have come for emergency shelter. Compared to the 12 months before that, of 733, the numbers are up 20%.”

Since the early 2000’s, the Mission served about 600 men per year, until they saw an increase to 722 men in 2009, and admissions have been rising ever since.

Those figures document unique or unduplicated individuals seeking assistance at the homeless shelter. Program Director Brian Phillips says that in addition to this increase, he has seen more men forced to seek assistance several times until they are able to “get back on their feet.” He explains that in the past, men would need temporary help from the Mission; they would find work, save their income, and then find permanent housing. The “working poor” who live paycheck to paycheck are more vulnerable to losing their housing. There’s no longer “a safety net,” says Phillips. There are fewer jobs available; if they are unable to maintain a position, they may return to the Mission, seeking service.

One of the main objectives of the Gateway Center is to encourage a man to enter a long-term program, if appropriate, to address and resolve issues which have contributed to his homelessness. For example, a man with a drug or alcohol addiction and a pattern of homelessness would be evaluated for drug and alcohol treatment. He may be referred to the Mission’s in-house, state-licensed drug and alcohol treatment program. However, Phillips states that there “has not been a spike in the number of drug addiction or mental illness cases.”

Join Us for the National Day of Prayer

Join the Allentown Rescue Mission and Local Churches in the National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 5th, 2011 at the Arts Park, North 5th & Linden Streets, Allentown.

Corporate Prayer will be led by area churches 12:05 - 12:35 pm. Fellowship will start earlier, at 11 am and will continue after prayer time until 1 pm. Churches welcome to set up information tables!

Join us in prayer for:
• Government • Military • Media • Business •
• Education • Church • Family •

For more information, contact Rev. Dan Adams, the Mission's Chaplain, at 610-740-5500 ext. 29 or email danadams@rcn.com.

You can download a church bulletin insert or flyer to share with friends at http://http://www.allentownrescuemission.org/pdf/National-Day-of-Prayer-Bulletin-Insert.pdf





Watch a brief video on our upcoming gathering for the National Day of Prayer.

$7,170 Raised! Mission Thanks Local Subway Restaurants for Having a Heart

57 Subway Restaurants participated in Have a Heart to raise funds for the Mission. Thoughout February, Subway customers were offered the opportunity to donate a $1 for the Mission and receive a coupon for a free 6" sub with the purchase of a 6".


Representatives from these Subway Restaurant locations raised the most money and stopped by to present the funds donation to the Mission (shown left to right): Bethlehem, represented by George and Tanya Thanhauser, 5th place, raising $410; Gary Millspaugh, Executive Director of the Mission; Fulton Brown, Development Agent, Subway Restaurant; 1st place Art Hoehne, Brodheadsville, raising $1,077; Gary and Jackie Lentz, Schnecksville, 4th Place with $455. Not pictured is Kerry Paules of the Lehighton and Jim Thorpe Subways, which placed 2nd ($856) and 3rd ($460) respectively. Thanks to Subway, and to everyone who donated for Having a Heart!

Still Time to Get a Free Sub at Subway with $1 Donation to Mission!

There's still time to join Subway's Have a Heart promotion to benefit the Allentown Rescue Mission. Through Feb 28th, when you stop by one of 57 participating Subway Restaurants throughout the Lehigh Valley, you can donate $1 to the Mission and get a coupon for a free 6" sub when you buy a 6" sub. The coupon's valid through March 31st! And since Subway's running it's famed "$5 Footlong" special, it's a great time to get a great meal and help the Mission.

Click to view the Have a Heart Video

The Mission Thanks 99.9 the Hawk for More Than $8,000

The Michaels and Layne Cookbook prepared by 99.9 the Hawk and sold at local Top Star Express locations raised more than $8,000 for the Allentown Rescue Mission! The cookbook is an annual project for the Michaels and Layne morning team, and the Mission is honored to have been chosen as the beneficiary this year. In photo Michaels and Layne present Mission executive Director Gary Millspaugh (left)
with proceeds from their cookbook fundraiserThanks to all who bought a cookbook, and to 99.9 the Hawk and Top Star Express for making this a huge success!

To view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTpmFVUW4n0

Life-threatening Temperatures Renew Mission's Operation WARM

With dangerously cold temperatures projected throughout this week, the Allentown Rescue Mission is reviving its Operation WARM campaign. The Mission is currently serving more than 30 individuals in its Gateway Center, which provides emergency shelter. Executive Director Gary Millspaugh expects those numbers to increase throughout the week as subzero temperatures are expected. "This weather is life-threatening to an unsheltered homeless person," Millspaugh said. "Emergency shelter services are crucial."

The dangers posed to the unsheltered homeless were brought to the public's attention tragically in December 2010, when several unsheltered homeless individuals died in Allentown. The Mission launched Operation WARM to raise awareness and provide support for homeless individuals in the Lehigh Valley by raising funds through a text-giving event. The Mission also began a campaign to distribute pocket-sized information cards in downtown Allentown, outling the vital services available so that homeless individuals do not have to stay outside during life-threatening conditions.

The cards were distributed to local businesses by a member of the Clean Team, which is the Mission's workforce development program, and by a concerned volunteer.

The Mission is pleased to report that two homeless individuals who were living under the Hamilton Street Bridge, attracting the attention of local media, have obtained permanent housing. Two others are still receiving services from the Mission.

Indviduals who want to participate in Operation WARM can give a one-time $10 donation from their mobile phones by texting the word WARM to 50555. Participants will receive a confirmation message, and should reply YES to confirm their give. Message and data rates may apply.

Operation WARM to Help Local Homeless People by Doubling Text Gifts

December 21st is the first day of winter and The Longest Night of the Year. It's especially tough on homeless people. The sun will set at 4:31 pm and will not rise until 7:17 am--15 long hours of darkness and cold.

It's also National Homeless Person's Memorial Day, a day of observance to remember those who have perished while homeless. Hypothermia remains a leading, critical and preventable cause of injury and death among those experiencing homelessness. In December 2010 two homeless individuals died in Allentown; one outside on a porch, the other under a bridge.

Between December 15th and 21st, the Allentown Rescue Mission will run a special mobile giving campaign called Operation WARM to help provide shelter, meals and life-changing programs at the Mission. You can join in by texting the word WARM to 50555 to make a onetime $10 donation to the Mission.

And now through the 21st, each $10 text donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, turning each $10 gift into $20, thanks to the generosity of:

• The law firm of Fitzpatrick, Lentz & Bubba
• A-Team Auto Center, 1095 MacArthur Rd., Whitehall
• A T & D Communications
• Health Habits, 5350 Rte. 873, Schnecksville
• TD Bank

You'll receive a confirmation text message; please reply YES to confirm your donation. (Data and message rates may apply. Reply STOP to 50555 to stop. Full Terms: mGive.org/T.)

Please share this opportunity with your friends. Visit http://www.allentownrescuemission.org/ for more information, to read the press release, or for a printable flyer. We now make it easier to share our information on your favorite social networking sites; just look for the "Share" icon.

Watch our Operation WARM video: