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Hope for the
Homeless
In Southwestern PA since 1941

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City Mission Intro
City Mission is a faith-based homeless shelter dedicated to providing hope, healing, and support to individuals in need, from Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond. Guided by our mission, City Mission exists to share Christ, to shelter, to heal, and to restore the homeless to independent living - without discrimination.

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See how your financial contribution can restore hope to the homeless!
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Support our fundraising events by attending, volunteering, or sponsoring.
Upcoming Events

Thrift

We have 8 Thrift Stores and a warehouse! All proceeds go to our life-changing programs.
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Volunteer

City Mission has numerous volunteer opportunities. Sign up today!
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Who we are

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City Mission is a Christ-centered rehabilitative homeless shelter.  

We facilitate the transformation of those who have descended into homelessness, hunger and despair by providing food, shelter, case management, Christian based counseling, and life-changing programming.  

Our goal is to help each person who walks through our doors to become a healthy, productive member of society.

front view of city mission chapel
a beautiful little girl stares at her empty plate

What we do

The City Mission offers two branches of service - Compassionate Care and our Life Recovery Program.

Compassionate Care reaches out to those most in need by offering basic services such as meals, shelter, and medical care.  

The Life Recovery Program assists men, women, and children who are in crisis and looking for life transformation.  

Our philosophy is to meet people where they are and to lead them towards their God-given purpose.

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What you can do

City Mission’s work is only possible by the community and businesses of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s generous donation of time and treasure.  

If you, your business, or church would like to be part of bringing hope to those hurting in our region, or partner with us to deliver the same - please take action today.

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5 youthful volunteers in the cafeteria alongside CEO Dean Gartland
Our Mission
For over 80 years, City Mission has shared Christ, sheltered, healed, and restored the homeless to independent living—without discrimination.  City Mission’s comprehensive program addresses both short-term needs like food and shelter, and long-term needs, including drug and alcohol counseling, mental health and medical treatment, legal aid, and employment training.  Our goal is to help each man, woman, mother with children, or veteran who walks through our doors to become a healthy, productive member of society.  With your help, we help our residents renew their lives.
3 male City Mission Resident give a group hug
Men
female resident
Women
mother with 2 children
Women & Children
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Veterans
Programs & Services Details
Our Impact
Our goal for each person who comes to City Mission is for them to move from a life of crisis, to a healthy, productive and thriving life.  Because of your generosity, City Mission made a real impact in the community, giving hope to those who are hungry and homeless and come to our doors for help.
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Meals
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Nights of Shelter
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People Served
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Medical Services
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What Our Residents Say

Latest News from the Mission

Our News Articles provide information on all manner of topics related to the City Mission.  Our Subject areas include:  Mission Highlights; Resident Stories; and Rescue Line Newsletters.  Mission Highlights engages a host of topics regarding homelessness, addiction, poverty and City Mission information.  Below you will find an opportunity to be “in-the-know” by being on our email list.  You will also find our most recent news pulled together for you below.  Checkout the "Podcast" section of our Knowledge Share articles page!

Why Homelessness Feels Different for Women

Jennifer in front of City Mission Chapel
October 7, 2025

You might not notice her, but she’s there. She’s parked at the edge of a grocery store lot, trying to get a few hours of sleep before sunrise. Her toddler is in the back seat, tucked under a blanket. Her phone is out of service, her gas tank nearly empty, and her heart races every time someone walks by. This is homelessness for many women. Women Often Hide Their Homelessness to Stay Safe Unlike the more visible side of homelessness, many women aren’t sleeping on park benches or living in crowded camps. They’re doing everything they can to stay invisible, because being seen can mean being in danger. Some stay with friends. Some live in cars. Others remain in relationships that are toxic or even abusive because it feels safer than facing the unknown. The fear of violence, judgment, or being separated from their children keeps many women silent. But silence doesn’t mean safety, and invisibility doesn’t mean everything is okay. Many Are Mothers Trying to Keep Life Together One of the most heartbreaking truths is that a large number of homeless women are also mothers. They’re not just trying to survive; they’re trying to protect their children from the emotional toll of instability. They pack lunches, walk their kids to school, and paste on smiles while silently wondering where they’ll sleep that night. We’ve seen this courage up close. At City Mission, we’ve met moms who held their families together through unimaginable circumstances. Women who put their children first in every decision, even as their own lives were unraveling. It’s hard to ask for help when your kids are watching. But we want every mother to know: asking for help is not weakness. It’s bravery. Homelessness Doesn’t Just Happen Overnight For most women, homelessness isn’t a sudden event, it’s the result of years spent trying to survive impossible circumstances. It may begin with childhood trauma, an untreated mental health issue, or the slow unraveling of life after addiction. Often, it’s a combination of many things that go unnoticed until the bottom falls out. At City Mission, we’ve seen women come through our doors straight from the hospital, with nowhere else to go. We’ve welcomed mothers who arrive carrying only a diaper bag, doing everything they can to hold on to hope. Jennifer was one of those women. She had made the brave decision to leave her old life behind, choosing sobriety and safety for herself and her newborn son. With nothing but determination and the will to change, she walked through the doors of City Mission ready to begin again. She built friendships with other moms who understood her journey. She leaned on staff members who reminded her that she was not alone. Slowly, the weight she carried began to lift. Today, Jennifer works as a Resident Assistant, offering the same compassion and encouragement she once received. The Need Has Grown, But So Has Our Vision We hear from women like Jennifer every day. But sadly, we don’t always have room. Nationally, from 2023-2024, homelessness among women increased 26%. And the need is growing not just across the country but in our own neighborhood as well. We get phone calls every day from women seeking shelter. These are real stores. Real women who are ready for a second chance but have nowhere to go tonight. They need more than a bed. They need privacy, dignity, safety, and care. You Can Help a Woman Find Safety and Hope Every woman who calls us asking for help is someone’s daughter, someone’s mother, someone’s friend. She’s worth helping. Worth saving. Worth restoring. With your support, we’re building Sally’s Sanctuary, a new Women’s Center right here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It will provide 50 additional beds for homeless women and so much more. It will be a place of safety and healing, offering not just shelter but also meals, counseling, spiritual care, recovery services, and community. The building is very near completion. We are planning for women to move into the new space starting in mid-to-late October. This is where their new life begins, where they can heal and restore their confidence and their hope. Be Part of Her Story If you’ve ever wondered what you could do to make a difference, this is your moment. Your gift today can help us open our doors to every woman who needs one. You help provide someone with a warm bed, a hot meal, and an opportunity to completely transform their life. Please consider donating today.

Eugene Shares How Your Support Gives Him Hope.

Eugene sitting on the steps at City Mission.
September 9, 2025

Looking back, Eugene remembers his younger years being filled with structure and opportunity. He’d attended a residential school that emphasized discipline and personal development. When he graduated and returned home, however, Eugene felt the absence of boundaries and guidance. “I went from being surrounded by mentors to being totally on my own,” he recalls. “I was naïve and fell in with the wrong crowd.” Soon, he was introduced to drugs and alcohol. By his mid-twenties, Eugene was struggling to navigate life. When he was introduced to more powerful substances, his life began to spiral. “I didn’t understand addiction,” he admits. “My drug use became a horrible obsession.” Over the years, Eugene cycled through periods of stability followed by relapse. Even when he had housing or a job, it never lasted. “Whenever I had a roof over my head, I was always on the verge of losing it.” Eugene’s darkest moment came when he was facing eviction again. “I was tired and spiritually broken. I had no desire to use anymore… but I had no idea how to stop,” he shares. Eugene remembered the Mission from years before and made a clear decision: “That’s where I wanted to go and get help.” “The Mission provided an atmosphere of serenity – the perfect place to heal.” Eugene promised himself he’d stay at the Mission for a full year – a level of commitment he’d never experienced. Since then, he’s found not only sobriety, but healing. Here, he’s been able to rehabilitate after knee surgery, give back by serving others in the kitchen and take on leadership as a dorm assistant. “I’ve learned I feel most like myself when I’m giving instead of taking,” he smiles. Now, Eugene sees the path ahead as a peaceful one. “I used to think going after material things would make me happy,” he said. “I’m chasing serenity now.” Your gifts are bearing fruit in the lives of people like Eugene. Now, his heart is full of hope this fall... thanks to your kindness! “City Mission saves lives. I know because it saved mine.”

Grand Opening!

City Mission Thrift Store in Canonsburg
July 3, 2025

On Tuesday, July 8, City Mission will be hosting a Grand Opening for our newest City Mission Thrift Store located at 36 East Pike Street in Canonsburg. The Grand Opening ceremony will be held at 9:00am at the new store. The ceremony will include a prayer of dedication, a ribbon-cutting, refreshments, raffle baskets, and store discounts for shoppers. About a year ago, City Mission had to close its former Canonsburg location. Fortunately, they have been able to relocate to a different building just down the road. Lisa Scamazzi, a long-time friend, supporter, and volunteer at the Mission has been instrumental in helping the new store get up and running. “The City Mission Thrift Store is one of our flagship stores in downtown Canonsburg,” Scarmazzi said. “We are so excited about this new location. It’s going to be transformational in town. The setup is wonderful. The people are wonderful. Folks that come in are going to be completely surprised by the quality and the items that are there.”All of the proceeds from City Mission’s seven Thrift Stores support the life-changing programs and services for the homeless residents at the Mission. “You can go to our Thrift Stores and donate your unneeded items,” said City Mission President and CEO, Diana Irey Vaughan. “Through our best stewardship, we resell those items and then that money can help us continue the life-transformational programming that takes place on our campus at City Mission.”Visit www.citymission.org/stores for more information about City Mission’s Thrift Store operations.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.     — Isaiah 40:31