Our new shelter on Voeghtly Street is now open! For the first time ever, we can offer family shelter for women and children. Plus, this is the home of our new men’s shelter, kitchen and dining room, and new Day Center.
This is a huge celebration, but we’re not all the way there! We still need to fundraise for the second important part of this campaign to renovate our Ridge Place building — home to the Men and Women’s Life Transformation programs, as well as office space for staff. The building includes a dining room, chapel, and limited emergency shelter for men. To get to the finish line, we need your help.
We’re now in Phase 2, which includes the renovation of our Ridge Place building — an old school we purchased in 2012. When renovated, this building will be home for people who enter our long-term residential programs. The facility will include a new kitchen and dining area, chapel, a 12-bed emergency shelter, a floor with 28 beds and space for programming for men in our long-term residential program, an entire floor devoted to programming space for women and children in our long-term program, and will also have office space for our team members.
The completion of Phase 2 is vital to Opening New Doors for our neighbors in need because it gives space for our continuum of care. No matter where someone is in their journey, we want to have a next step for them toward sobriety, education, employment, housing, independence, and healing.
Current Ridge Place building
Ridge Place after Phase 2 completion
Goal of $24 million.
$22 million raised to date.
$2 million to go.
Here’s how our remaining amount we need to raise breaks down*. No matter what you’re able to give, your support makes this entire journey possible.
*These amounts are estimates of our Phase 2 building and renovation costs at Ridge Place.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
MATTHEW 25:35
For 67 years, Light of Life Rescue Mission has been a place of miracles and life transformation, serving homeless men, women, and children in Pittsburgh’s North Side. As the need in our community has grown and evolved, so too have our services. But the need outgrew our space and location a long time ago.
Our Capital Campaign, Opening New Doors, is a 25-year-long need and dream to be able to meet our neighbors in need right where they are with greater space and accommodations that serve them with dignity, privacy, accessibility, and community.
This incredible journey and very exciting time in Light of Life’s history is only made possible by generous supporters and donors in the community. Together, we are Opening New Doors of hope and healing.
Homelessness is increasing in Allegheny County
More families are seeking homeless services
COVID-19 and other recent impacts to the economy have pushed more people into homelessness
Two locations and four ways to meet our neighbors right where they are.
Our new dual location moves our meals, shelter, and other services much closer to those who may need them.
Moving from a major city street where our clients and meal guests are in the public eye to buildings in more private settings so that anyone can receive help with privacy and dignity.
More physical space to provide life-transforming care, a first-ever family shelter for women and children, ability to expand our Street Outreach to meet more people with hope and healing.
Closer to the community we serve with fully accessible buildings to better serve the eldery and disabled.
After our relocation, we will sell our current properties to provide new opportunities for urban renewal and development taking place on the North Side.