Lexington Rescue Mission's new center brings services for homeless under one roof

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2 days ago

Lexington Rescue Mission has moved into a new space ten times larger than its old one, and it is joined there by two other community organizations that will work together to help meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Lexington.
'We're creating a place that really is one of a kind here in Lexington,' Lexington Rescue Mission Executive Director Laura Carr said.
The mission held a grand opening Saturday for its new space at 535 West Second St., which is at the corner of Second and Jefferson streets.
Lexington Rescue Mission offers food, clothing, housing assistance, case management, mentoring, help for people reentering the community after incarceration, spiritual guidance, a place where people can simply spend time during the day and more. Carr said the mission had outgrown its old 5,112-square-foot space off Glen Arvin Avenue.
The 52,806-square-foot building the mission bought near downtown has enough room for it to meet the growing needs of the community, Carr said.
'God has brought more and more people through our doors, and we want to welcome each one with the care they deserve. This building allows us to do that in a powerful way,' Carr said in a news release.
The mission has been in its new home since April.
In addition to Lexington Rescue Mission, the building is also home to Jubilee Jobs, which moved in a year ago and helps people find stable employment, and Isaiah House Community Health Center, which has been open at the Second Street property since last fall and includes a primary care clinic, as well as behavioral health services.
Soon, the Isaiah House Community Health Center will also offer dental and pharmacy services, said Brian Privett, general counsel for Isaiah House.
'What's happening here, it's the real deal,' Mason King, CEO of Jubilee Jobs, said.
Having all three organizations in one place has really enhanced the services they provide, he continued.
For example, someone living in their car may come in for the job program, and if they haven't had a hot meal in a while, he can take them downstairs to Lexington Rescue Mission for lunch or upstairs to find some 'job-ready clothing' in the mission's clothing closet.
All three organizations take a Christian approach to their services.
Cody Wooton, a resident of Lexington Rescue Mission's transitional housing, told those in attendance at Saturday's event he learned about the mission while in prison, and opted to come there rather than go home after his release.
'It turned out to be everything I needed,' Wooton said. 'They helped me find structure, purpose and healing. The people here didn't treat me like a project. They treated me like a brother.'
Wooton said he's since bought a car and started college.
'I now have peace, I have purpose, and I have Jesus,' he said. 'I have real friends. I have community.'
Though Lexington Rescue Mission does not operate an overnight shelter, the opening of the building comes at a time when the city is seeing a growing need for services aimed at helping the unhoused population.
A new report by commissioned by the city found Lexington needs more emergency shelter beds, and it was suggested a hub for services like transitional housing assistance and mental health care be offered on-site. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton created a task force last week to consider how to address the needs.
Lexington Rescue Mission has raised $6.1 million of what it needed to buy and renovate the Second Street building, which had previously housed multiple offices. Carr said another $1.8 million is needed for the organization to be debt-free.
Carr, whose parents founded the mission 24 years ago, said one guest who visited recently proclaimed, 'This place is like heaven!'
She said she overheard two other women telling each other, 'It's just so beautiful here.'
Carr said that was the vision: 'A beautiful place for hurting people to come and get a taste of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.'
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