A Place that Feels like Home

Water Street Mission is a pillar of support for men, women, and children in need in Lancaster and the surrounding region. Since its inception in 1905, Water Street has been committed to seeing the redemptive work of God tangibly accomplished. Years of steady growth and added programs transformed the Mission from its humble beginnings into an organization that offers critical services and holistic care to hundreds of people each day.

Women’s and Children’s Residential Center Guests

Holistic Help for All

Best known for its homeless shelters, Water Street Mission offers both short-term and long-term housing, as well as many other services, to meet a wide range of needs.

Guests can stay up to 90 days at the Providence Shelter, where they have the opportunity to truly rest, some for the first time in years. Here, guests can meet with staff, sleep comfortably, and enjoy hot meals. Providence also acts as a day shelter, connecting those living on the streets with social and community service providers as well as offering evening classes and chapel for those interested. During the frigid winter months, this shelter becomes a haven for dozens of Lancaster men and women struggling to stay warm.

Individuals can also elect to enter the Residential Program, which provides long-term housing and assistance to encourage personal development. New guests are paired with a case manager and life coach, who provide personalized support. Many of those who stay at Water Street come struggling with addiction, mental illness, poverty, or trauma, which all perpetuate the cycle of homelessness. Because of the time and support afforded, almost all residential program guests receive the tools needed to handle their individual issues and go on to live more productive lives.

For James, staying at Water Street enabled real change and provided a renewed sense of hope. “At the end of himself, with no resources, no prospects and no hope, James remembers being at the corner of Prince and Lemon Streets, deciding whether or not to turn left and end it all by throwing himself in front of a train. 

Instead, he found himself suddenly at Water Street. He was broken, crying and drunk and two guys immediately walked up to him and put their arms around him, telling him that everything was going to be okay. A Case Manager talked with him, letting him know about the programs that would be available to him. Further suggesting that James was in no condition to make a decision that day, his Case Manager got him set up with the emergency services he would need and told him that he would talk with him the next day.

The road wasn’t easy, but James put in the work and through support from staff, found a new hope and security in Christ. Now James is 5 years sober and a certified Recovery Specialist, helping others as a Residential Coordinator and Facility Caretaker at Rase Project – a Recovery Community Organization.”

Other guests share similar stories, brought together by hard circumstances and finding a place that feels like home. Kevin, a former guest, shared, “[Water Street Mission] shows love like I’ve never seen in a shelter.” Billie, another former guest, stated, “When I came [to Water Street], I had no hope for the future. I was ready to give up…. They’ve changed all that. I can honestly say I’m in a better place now than I have probably ever been in my life.”

All of Water Street’s housing is provided at no cost to the individual, removing the financial barrier and burden so that guests can instead focus on their own journeys to recovery.

Water Street Mission also offers medical, dental, and behavioral services. Many of those living on the streets have not had access to these types of care in years; guests often struggle with chronic illnesses and tooth decay, which negatively affect them mentally as well as physically. All of these services, including exams, cleanings, lab work, and even tooth extractions, are provided at no cost to the individual.

Moreover, they operate multiple youth programs, including pre-K and kindergarten classes, teen mentorships, and young adult outreach. These work in unison to develop and support youth through some of their most formative years.

Finally, Water Street’s Food Pantry provides over 400,000 pounds of food to individuals and families in need each year. The Pantry also has become a place where people can receive prayer and find community.

Through its dedicated programs and offered resources, Water Street Mission makes a tangible difference for our neighbors in need. We are grateful to have them as a partner and excited to help them grow their important impact in the Lancaster region.

Dormitory Area

Dreaming Bigger & Better Together

The CommunityAid Foundation has launched several programs to help nonprofits manage and overcome the shifting challenges that naturally come with fundraising, thought leadership, and providing social services.

Due to how the Foundation interlocks with CommunityAid’s thrift stores, we can offer Care Cards ($25 store vouchers) to men, women, and children in need. Since card users select the items that meet their needs and personal taste, they regain the dignity of choice. Water Street Mission has received $4,000 in the past three years to provide those staying at their shelter with warm, clean clothing. This both helps their guests and enables Water Street to reroute funds that would otherwise be used to provide clothing to other programs and initiatives.

In 2022, we began offering quarterly LIFTS Workshops. These comprehensive and research-driven trainings help our nonprofit partners more efficiently and effectively accomplish their own missions and enhance their impact on those in need. Water Street Mission staff members have been regularly involved since our pilot year. These included “Maximizing Impact,” “Wealth Management with Boyer & Ritter,” “Nonprofit Collaboration with Partnerships for Better Health.”

Our Support

We offer a range of grants, focused on everything from impact growth (10X Grant) to emergency support (Relief Grant). Since 2022, we’ve provided over $65,000 through our Annual Grant program to help sustain and improve Water Street Mission’s daily operations.

In 2023, we provided $25,000 to help renovate their Women’s and Children’s Residential Shelter. This renovation sought to enhance the safety, comfort, and cleanliness of several important areas, including the kitchen and a communal living space. This both increased the functionality and comfort of the shelter and helped guests feel safe and valued as they work to recover their lives.

Developing partnerships has enabled the CommunityAid Foundation to make a lasting difference for our neighbors in need. Together, we can impact even more men, women, and children than would be possible alone.

You can learn more about Water Street Mission’s invaluable work at https://wsm.org/. Interested in learning about other organizations we support? You can do so here.