The Rescue Mission is a leader and effective program to provide the basic needs of the large portion of Merced’s homeless. It strikes a balance between helping others and teaching them to help themselves. The Rescue Mission is a major contributor to relieving homelessness.
Housing the homeless is an issue of values. There are households where both parents work hard at minimum wage jobs to support their children, pay rent, utilities, car expenses who feel it unfair that homeless persons who do not work and/or abuse substances are provided decent dwellings at no cost. There are those who see a homeless person sleeping on a street in the cold or extreme heat in filthy clothes, malnourished, sick, and/or mentally ill who feel it is wrong that in one of the richest countries with a strong Christian heritage, that such neglect of our fellow human beings continues. I understand both viewpoints.
The Rescue Mission programs recognize that homeless people need things many of us take for granted. They need shelter from the weather, a shelter safe from attack/robbery, a place to securely store their possessions, a home for their pets, the stability of an address to receive mail, water with facilities to maintain personal hygiene, and training/counseling to help transition to independent living which some will achieve. The Rescue Mission is a leader and major provider of programs that fulfill these needs in a way that meets the needs of people in a Christian way without rousing the resentment of those who work hard to care for their families. Housing the homeless in leased homes, the future navigation center, the future respite care for the ill, and the future Village of Hope apartments for Veterans and families with young children are all such programs that serve our fellow human beings in time of need.
I have advocated for facilities for the homeless through the city championing the attempt to convert the California Motel into 40 studio apartments denied by the council, and by supporting the city’s efforts to develop very low-cost housing at K and 13th St., plus the large apartment project with 30 very low-cost units at B St. and Childs Ave., which has taken over four years but is underway now. The Rescue Mission is a highly valuable advocate for the homeless without which government programs would be much less effective.
Groundbreaking - Village of Hope campus
On July 13, 2020, the Merced County Rescue Mission Board of Directors awarded a contract to Skip George, owner of Commercial Construction Company of Merced, to build Phase One of the Village of Hope campus. Mr. George expects to break ground in August on the Hope Medical Respite Care building which will be the first of four buildings in Phase One.
Phase One of this project will include a 32 bed “Hope Medical Respite Care” building where Mercy Medical Center Merced can discharge people who are homeless for a period of recuperation. The Respite Care building has been funded through a generous 2.5-million-dollar grant from Central California Alliance for Health and a generous 837-thousand-dollar grant from Dignity Health.
The Respite Care program has been operated by the Mission in houses during the past six years and has made a significant positive difference in the lives of men and women whose health has been compromised from exposure to the elements while living on the street. Over 50% of the people who utilize the respite care program do not return to the street but are able to be placed in housing.
Also included in Phase One will be a ten-unit apartment building for Veterans who are homeless, and a ten-unit apartment building for families with young children who are homeless. The apartment buildings will provide transitional living and will be funded through New Market Tax Credits, forgivable Federal Bank Loans, and other grants yet to be identified. Phase One will also include a maintenance building and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021.
Phase Two of the “Village of Hope” campus will include a 32-bed men’s facility for the Mission’s faith-based, “Hope for Men” program and a 20-bed women’s facility for the “Hope for Women” program. In addition, Phase Two will also include a 20-bed facility for pregnant women who are homeless and a building that will house classrooms, a chapel, and offices. The Phase Two portion of the “Village of Hope” campus will be funded through gifts from individuals, churches, and organizations that support the faith-based work of the Mission.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support of the Mission!
If you would like to donate towards the Phase Two portion of our campus, you can do that here.
If you would like to set up monthly donations towards the Phase Two portion of our campus, you can do that here.
Double the impact of your donation to the Mission through Travis Credit Union
We are thrilled to share an opportunity to double your impact thanks to the Travis Credit Union! All funds raised for Merced Rescue Mission, up to $20,000 will be matched by the Travis Credit Union. Be sure to choose the Merced County Rescue Mission from the dropdown when donating.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE & DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT
LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAVIS CREDIT UNION’S EFFORT TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY
Thank you for your prayers and support during this time.
Two Major Facilities for Homeless Being Built in Merced
Click here to access the ABC 30 article about these facilities.
County Planning Commission Approved Campus Plans
Click to learn more: New Campus
Land for Planned Campus Cleaned Up, Thanks to the men from the Mission!
On Thursday, June 4th, men from the Mission’s discipleship program spent four hours cleaning up five acres on which we are planning to build our Village of Hope campus. We are so grateful for the community support of this project. This campus will make it possible for approximately 130 people at a time to experience positive life-changing opportunities.
Report on Mission Activities During COVID-19
REPORT ON MISSION ACTIVITIES DURING COVID-19
By Tim Adam, MCRM COO
COVID-19 has affected the Mission in numerous ways. We had to stop bringing in new participants to many of our programs and stopped allowing them to go out on pass (a few hours to visit family). This was difficult for some individuals, not being able to see their families, and it was sad to see some decide to leave our program. However, we are very blessed for all the support we have had, and for the opportunities, we have had to help other programs in Merced.
The Mission has always been happy to collaborate with different agencies to help with the homeless population in any way we can. One of those has been through Project Roomkey. Once the Governor announced Project Roomkey, the County reached out to the Mission to see if we were able to provide on-site management of the hotels in Merced and Los Banos. This project was a big undertaking, but we knew the importance of getting the most vulnerable homeless off the streets during this pandemic.
The Mission has been able to provide temporary employment for many of our graduates and resident assistants. We are working in three, eight-hour shifts at the hotels and helping with intakes and wellness checks.
The hope is that while the individuals are sheltering in place at the hotels, all the different homeless service providers along with the City and County can work together trying to find permanent supportive housing for many of these individuals.
We feel truly blessed to be an agency that others can look to for help when needed. The Mission truly has a heart for the homeless and needy, and we are always looking for ways to help this community.
