To address this, City Rescue Mission recently broke ground on a new homeless shelter in the 400 block of Kalamazoo Avenue. According to Grimwood, the facility is expected to open by late spring 2025 and will become one of the largest shelters in the Mid-Michigan region.

City Rescue Mission is a key provider for Lansing's homeless population, operating three different facilities that offer housing, support services and essential supplies. Last year, the organization served approximately 244 individuals each night. This year, Grimwood predicts that number will rise even further, exacerbating the strain on existing resources.

These growing numbers are becoming an issue for shelters who struggle to find space to house them all, Grimwood said. Even when they manage to find space, with such a high influx of people, shelters aren’t able to spend time with each individual to assess their needs and struggles. This ongoing struggle to meet the needs of the unhoused community prompted City Rescue Mission to seek ways to expand its services.

"Cities are doing what we can with the limited resources available, but many cities, including Lansing, need more funding and programs form the state and federal government to be truly effective," the director of communications for Lansing mayor Andy Schor, Scott Bean, said.

In the midst of the pandemic, the organization began exploring options to increase its capacity. Initially, they considered expanding their existing men’s shelter on Michigan Avenue, but economic concerns made them hesitant to invest in a project that would offer minimal return for the community.

Instead, they continued their search for three years until they came across two office buildings located on Kalamazoo Avenue. The buildings were in great condition and were practically begging to be redone, said Grimwood. They plan to connect the two buildings with showers and bathrooms in between.

Thanks to a combination of loans, grants and community donations, City Rescue Mission was able to secure funding for the project. Once completed, the new shelter will effectively double the services they can provide, offering much-needed relief for the area's unhoused population.

Renovations are already underway, and while there's still a long way to go, Grimwood is optimistic about the progress. 

"I think it's just a matter of us being unfamiliar with the process and just having to let things roll out as they need to,” Grimwood said. “So far nothing really major in the matter of challenges. I think the big challenges are going to come up with the move."

The relocation, which is expected to take place toward the end of construction, will be a significant undertaking. City Rescue Mission’s current men’s shelter, established in 1948, has accumulated decades of history, artifacts and personal touches that will need to be transferred to the new space.

Fortunately, local organizations and businesses have stepped up to offer assistance. College Hunks, a moving company that specializes in providing support during transitions, has volunteered to help with the move, ensuring a smoother transition to the new shelter.

"It's really exciting to see different ways the community has reached out to us," said Grimwood. "It’s nice to think they want to help the mission and help us, but it’s not about us. It's about the people we're serving. It's very humbling and encouraging to see the community come together to aid them."

One feature that sets the new shelter apart from others is its planned hours of operation. Unlike traditional shelters, which typically close during the day, the new City Rescue Mission facility will be open 24 hours a day, allowing individuals to stay both day and night.

Grimwood says this will be a valuable trait in the winter months when shelters experience the most traffic. Instead of being forced to ask guests to leave in the cold, they’ll be permitted to stay all day in heated spaces.

These extended hours will provide workers with more time to connect with the guests and assess their needs. 

"I believe a leading cause of homelessness is a lack of structured housing programs with supportive mental health and/or recovery services," City Rescue Mission’s Sr. Director of Operations Randy Barton said.

Many of the guests within homeless shelters function well due to the basic daily structure and oversight provided by the program and staff but find it difficult to maintain those same routines during the day outside of the shelters, said Barton. Extending hours allows guests to maintain structure, intentional community and oversight of staff in order to revolutionize the lives of those experiencing homelessness.

One question that has come up frequently is whether the shelter will accept all individuals, regardless of their background or religious beliefs. Since City Rescue Mission is a faith-based organization, some people have expressed concerns that the shelter might only serve those willing to practice Christianity.

Grimwood said that while their organization is driven by faith, it isn’t isolated by their faith. City Rescue Mission accepts any individual in need of help, not just Christians.

"We do what we do so we can show and share the love of Christ," said Grimwood. "If you’ve already experienced that, that's great, but we're not gonna close the door if you haven't, and we're definitely not gonna close the door if you're not interested."

Grimwood said they've witnessed this confusion a lot in the past. She wants to clarify that there is no prerequisite of religion to enter through their doors. They accept and welcome anyone and everyone.

Another significant change will be the consolidation of services for single individuals. Currently, City Rescue Missio's Women and Children's shelter on South Cedar houses both single women and women with children, while their men's shelter on Michigan Avenue houses single men. Once the new facility is open, both single men and women will be relocated to the new shelter, freeing up space in the existing locations.

With their locations, they've put the men's shelter up for sale, and they plan to continue operations at their women's shelter, however, they'll only be housing women with children there.

Although the city government has no direct involvement in the project, the mayor's office has expressed its support.

Bean said the city recognizes the importance of addressing the homelessness crisis with a multi-layered approach. More housing, social services, mental health and substance abuse issues are necessary, and City Rescue Mission’s expansion will provide just that for the city.

For Grimwood, the project is a testament to the compassion and generosity of the Lansing community. 

"We would not exist without the compassion of our community, and I brag on our community all the time," Grimwood said. "The city of Lansing and the Lansing area is unique in the amount of people who are passionate about helping other people. I'm so grateful to be a part of that."