Milwaukee Rescue Mission

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission is a shelter for homeless and ailing families. Since 1893, it has worked with the hungry and hurting of Milwaukee, helping them restore their lives and their hope. In its Milwaukee home, any given night will see nearly 1,500 homeless people will be on the streets.[1] The Milwaukee Rescue Mission seeks to meet those in need where they are. The Milwaukee Rescue Mission offers practical assistance like food (approximately 300,000 meals this year), clothing (nearly 40,000 items), and shelter (over 100,000 nights). In addition, the shelter offers transformative programs that equip struggling men, women, and children to get off the streets and turn their lives around for good. While practical assistance is important, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission supplies both short- and long-term assistance, complemented by education, counseling, help in overcoming substance abuse, job training and much more. The organization bases its programs on addressing the root causes of problems, rather than simple temporary fixes. As a non-denominational Christian organization, it provides spiritual development and enrichment, all based on the good news of the Gospel; it professes that the Gospel message is the key to lasting change. The Milwaukee Rescue Mission is part of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.[2]

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission has been located at 19th and Wells since 1986.
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Location

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission is located at 830 N 19th Street in the historic Milwaukee Girls' Trade and Technical High School building in the Avenues West neighborhood of Milwaukee. Milwaukee was heavily affected by the loss of heavy industry and manufacturing, holding the position of the second poorest city in the United States.[3] The Milwaukee Rescue Mission has occupied the main campus at the corner of 19th and Wells since 1986. Prior to that, the shelter was located in a building near the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The City of Milwaukee claimed eminent domain over that property, which now serves as a parking lot for the stadium. In 2015, the organization acquired its North Campus, located on 15th and Center in the heart of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. Lindsay Heights is located in the zipcode 53206, recently featured in the award-winning documentary Milwaukee 53206 as the most incarcerated zip code in the United States. Milwaukee Rescue Mission's North Campus currently houses its school, Cross Trainers Academy, and a certified daycare, the Child Enrichment Center. The Main Campus continues to contain a men's shelter, Safe Harbor, and its shelter for women with children, Joy House.

Services

Due to the great need in the Milwaukee area, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission has a broad range of services, including the following:

  • Safe Harbor for Men: Safe Harbor provides food, shelter, clothing, and educational opportunities for homeless men. For those with short-term, emergency needs, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission provides meals, shelter, clothing, counseling, education and job search resources. In addition to short term help, The Milwaukee Rescue Mission also offers two long-term programs. New Journey is a long-term addiction recovery program that equips men through daily Bible studies, computer-based and instructor-led education programs, GED preparation and testing, work therapy and on-the-job training, personal mentoring, educational support, financial/legal guidance and assistance in securing employment and housing. For men who graduate from New Journey, the FOCUS (Following Our Commitment Under Supervision) program allows for transitional living that continues to prepare men to live out new lives. The comprehensive services of FOCUS help men secure employment, manage their finances, handle legal issues, find strength through Christian counseling and restore broken relationships.
  • Joy House for Women and Children: Joy House provides housing and assistance for women and their families who are homeless. There are many reasons that women may find themselves homeless, but primary reasons include domestic violence, divorce, death of a spouse and job loss. In addition to emergency aid, Joy House cares for women through two primary programs: New Life and Fresh Start. New Life includes two weeks of classes and serves as a first step towards starting over. New Life equips women with the real-world skills and spiritual guidance they need to prepare for an independent, stable and secure life. The program includes: job search training, basic adult education, Christian counseling and education, parenting and life-skills classes, financial management principles and one-on-one case management.
  • Cross Trainers Academy: Cross Trainers Academy was founded in 2006 to reach the at-risk youth of Milwaukee. Without a solid education, compassionate mentors and a firm foundation, many are likely to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and its frequent results: violence, substance abuse and homelessness. Study after study has shown that education is the best ticket out of such situations. Milwaukee Rescue Mission started Cross Trainers Academy with the express purpose of providing at-risk children with the opportunity for an excellent, Christian-based education that will equip them with academic, social, emotional and spiritual tools for life. In 2015, the school moved to the new North Campus at 15th and Center streets. CTA has approximately 300 students enrolled with a 20:1 student/staff ratio. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through 10th grade, with more grades to be added in coming years.
  • Equip: Equip focuses on building strong families in Joy House and the neighboring community through education and resources to help them become stable physically, emotionally and spiritually. Programming in Equip includes an annual summer day-camp for children in the community called City Camp, as well as tutoring programs offered throughout the school year. City Camp focuses on maintaining learning over the summer and caring for youth in a safe environment. In addition to academics, City Camp includes spiritual education and weekly off-site field trips. Equip also gives school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and food items to children and their parents. And, with the move to the North Campus came the opening of a certified daycare, the Child Enrichment Center. Accommodating children from four weeks to four years old, CEC helps to prepare children for the K4 experience and provides them with a safe and loving environment.

Sponsorship

A list of event sponsors can be accessed on the Milwaukee Rescue Mission's site.[4] The efforts of the Milwaukee Rescue Mission are made possible by generous gifts from individuals, churches and businesses.

References
  1. "Milwaukee Continuum of Care January 2013 Point-in-Time Summary" (PDF). Milwaukee Continuum of Care. January 30, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  2. "AGRM". Association of Gospel Missions. Association Catalyst. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  3. Kennedy, Bruce (February 18, 2015). "America's 11 Poorest Cities". Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  4. "Rescue Mission giving". Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
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