Rescue Mission of Trenton

The impact we have within our community can be measured in both immediate needs and long-terms goals.

In terms of immediate needs, our impact can be measured by the quality and quantity of the services we provide for those with nowhere else to turn.

Our ultimate goal is to help put an end to homelessness - one person at a time.

To achieve our goals takes thousands of hours of dedicated case management services, working with individuals to navigate complex systems to obtain their identification, benefits, and health care.

Hundreds of referrals to primary and behavioral health care were made – a process facilitated through a collaborative effort with Henry J. Austin Federally Qualified Health Center to provide a clinic on-site in the shelter.

These achievements were only possible due to our service model as a gateway to housing and the coordination of necessary actions such as securing identification and keeping appointments to qualify for housing.

Our goal is to continue to be here 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week and to safely care for those who are most vulnerable in our community throughout this pandemic.

In the past year, to keep those we serve and to do this, we had to completely transform the the operations of The Mission and become even more innovative.

Our strategies is to continue to be flexible and innovative.

By way of one example, because of the economic and health crisis that is raging, we knew we had to do something different this year.

Traditionally, to keep warm, those who are experiencing homelessness would come to The Mission and stay in our Day Center for a meal, the spend the night.

When the winter winds would be brutally cold, it would not be unusual to have 200 people spend the night.

However, because of the social distancing required for us to comply with CDC and HUD guidelines, we can now only hose 50 people in the Day Center.

So, one of the first things we did was to rent a home so that some of our residents were able to relocate there. Then we were able to place 23 of the most vulnerable individuals who stay at The Mission in a remote area where they each had separate rooms.

Then, in collaboration with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and funding from the Princeton Area Community Foundation, we were able to relocate our Thrift Store to another area in The Mission - so that we could create a Warming Center for 60 more homeless individuals to be safe from the ravages of the pandemic and the equally threatening below-freezing winds of this winter.

This project started with recognizing the essential need. Then, by collaborating, we were able to create a solution. Still, of course, it is only occurring because of the compassion and generosity of our community.

In our last fiscal year, we provided over 38,000 bed nights and served over 72,000 meals to more than 1,000 individuals who knocked on our Shelter’s door.

For over a century, whenever someone has knocked on our door, all we’ve ever asked are two questions: “What’s your name?” and “Are you hungry?”

Then we provide immediate relief from the elements, a place to rest in comfort, a respite from hunger, and the peace of mind associated with a familiar, safe haven. And over a shared meal, our dedicated and talented staff help each individual determine “What’s next?”

Then, through a coordinated assessment process, the needs of each individual who is homeless are identified and prioritized; then, in coordination with our partners in the Trenton/Mercer Continuum of Care, using the Housing First Model, we help each individual realize his or her full potential by gaining access to health care, providing substance abuse treatment, and, for those who qualify, the possibility to enter supportive housing.

Many individuals also opt to move from our Shelter to our Behavioral Health Center, where they can receive further counseling, along with vocational development training, and the opportunity to start their lives over again.

To provide an understanding of the scope and breadth of our services: In FY2020, the overall Emergency Services program provided shelter to 1,018 homeless adults in Mercer County for a total of 38,005 shelter stays, and served 71,992 meals.

During the very cold days of winter it is not at all uncommon to see over 200 individuals come to The Mission for respite from the elements; this past year 104 clients on average used the Emergency Shelter, with higher daily census during weather emergencies, including extreme heat, cold, rain, and snow.

Between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020, 63 individuals who entered The Shelter were referred to Rapid Re-Housing, and 153 obtained Housing (including Permanent, Permanent Supportive, and Transitional).

In addition, 162 were referred for substance use treatment, 167 were referred for mental health treatment, 197 were referred for health care concerns, and 52 were referred for SOAR benefits.

To get to this point took thousands of hours of dedicated case management services, working with individuals to navigate complex systems to obtain identification, benefits, and health insurance. Hundreds of referrals to primary and behavioral health care were made – a process facilitated through a collaborative effort with Henry J. Austin Health Center.

These achievements were only possible due to our 57 full-time and 25 part-time talented and devoted employees, and to our community-wide service model as a gateway to housing, where we schedule our partner providers to meet with clients regularly on site in The Shelter, eliminating the need for our clients to navigate a complex care network.

In the beginning of March, when the pandemic began to surge, we knew three things were true.

First, we knew that most of the individuals we serve were highly vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus.

The second thing we knew was that we had to remain open 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.

When the Governor directed everyone who was not an essential employee to stay home, we knew that staying home was not an option for anyone who was homeless.

So, the third thing we knew was that we had to act fast.

The entire operation of The Mission had to be completely transformed – in ways that we never previously considered.

Heeding expert advice, a plan was quickly implemented,
- Relocating some of our 41 tenants, so we could create a separate wing in The Shelter to keep our most vulnerable clients safe;
- Creating a comprehensive telehealth program, with over 225 weekly appointments, so our clients could continue with their medical and counseling sessions;
- Reconfiguring meals and smaller group counseling sessions so everyone could meet at a safe distance;
- Implementing Skype visits for family members;
- Becoming the first facility in the area to test everyone – clients and staff – once our first client contracted the coronavirus;
- Creating a separate section to keep individuals who tested positive (though asymptomatic) safe and isolated from everyone else; and
- Working closely with area hospitals whenever anyone tested positive.

We had not idea how we would possibly pay for all that had to be done to keep those we serve and our essential workers safe.

We just knew what we had to do.

Our resources were limited. There was no time to spare. And each day brought unforeseen challenges to overcome.

So, we persisted – and believed.

Then, while intently focusing on the immediate and newfound needs of those we serve, our hearts were lifted by the many philanthropic foundations and caring individuals who reached out to help.

What we knew to be true was that even in the worst of times, the best always comes out in those who truly care for others.

While we do not know what challenges the coming year will bring for those who have nowhere else to turn, what we know to be true is that we will be here – day-in and day-out, around-the-clock.

What's next is to continue with our ultimate goal of helping to put an end to homelessness – one person at a time.