PITTSBURGH — Light of Life Rescue Mission has a new home on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, just steps away from so many people who need it most.
Located on Voeghtly Street, the new space is 25 years in the making. That’s how long the mission has been searching for the right spot to serve the community.
“Finally, we have a place that is designed to take care of those who are so vulnerable,” Jerrel Gilliam, Light of Life Rescue Mission executive director, said.
The building is 23,000 square feet and three floors.
“Most people, if they’ve been down and out, they’ve been traumatized for a long time and they’re expecting a basement or a cot somewhere, and when they walk in and they see that this is the place that’s prepared for them, sometimes the reaction is just tears,” Gilliam said.
The first floor is a kitchen and dining area that’s four times the size of the space in the old building on East North Avenue.
An emergency shelter and short-term living space for men is on the second floor. There are 20 beds.
But it’s what’s on the third floor that’s a first for the mission: A safe space for women and their children.
“Across the country and here in Allegheny County, the fastest growing segment of our population is women with children, and so we finally have a place. Eighteen beds here. We’ll be able to take women and children off the street, give them a safe place where they can heal and make better steps in the next part of their lives,” Gilliam said.
Lisa Coleman turned to the Light of Life Rescue Mission 27 years ago. The mother now lives a life of helping other women as the shelter supervisor for the mission.
“I thought I was going to die. Twenty-seven years ago, I thought I was going to die. I never imagined I would be sitting here seeing this place, being able to give back,” Coleman said.
The mission launched a capital campaign to pay for all the improvements. This part of it cost about $6 million. Now, it’s on to Phase 2, which involves renovating a building on Ridge Avenue for even more outreach programs.
This browser does not support the video element.