Urban Mission Ministries has launched a $1 million summer fundraising campaign to assist the homeless, as well as additional services that are offered locally. (Photo Provided)

Chances are, many of the people who reading this will have gone to sleep and woken up in their own bed, in their own home and not have thought twice about it. But for others, there was no bed and no home to call their own.

The fact is, most people do not think about those who are living on the streets and have nowhere to turn. They are too busy focusing on their own lives, their own families and their own jobs.

But there is one area nonprofit that has made it its mission to assist those who are homeless. Its staff and volunteers have made it their job to do whatever possible to help these individuals and families find shelter, food and the resources needed to turn their lives around.

For the first time since its founding as a Mill Men’s Hostel in 1959, Urban Mission Ministries has launched a summer fundraising campaign to raise $1 million to assist with homelessness, as well as the additional services offered within its six-county service area. It’s a region that includes Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison and Carroll counties in Ohio and Brooke and Hancock counties in West Virginia.

Why $1 million? Although that number might appear to be a huge amount, the truth is, it isn’t. The reality is while it might cost $25 to provide food, shelter and clothing to somebody for one day, the numbers add up when 37,000 people living in the Urban Mission’s service area live at or below the poverty level. Help is always needed.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2024, the poverty range in these six counties was between 11.9 percent to 17.3 percent.

The Urban Mission’s executive director, the Rev. Kimberly Arbaugh, explained dozens of local people — right here at home — have no safe place to sleep every night. She attributes several factors that are key components in how these men and women have come to be without a home. The effects of high inflation, the loss of jobs, funding delays and other challenges out of their control are just some of the reasons why there is a continuing increase in homelessness every year.

When asked if the organization has ever had to turn anyone away because of a lack of funding, Arbaugh responded, no, they have never turned anyone away. However, staff and volunteers are not able to offer as many of the mission’s support services when funding is low.

These services are needed. They are vital for assisting these men and women into transitioning into finding permanent housing and the assistance needed to get them back on their feet, Arbaugh explained.

Those seeking the mission’s help are permitted to stay at a shelter anywhere between 30 and 90 days. During that time, the mission’s navigators meet with each guest and create a housing plan with them to help evaluate their needs so they can be connected with the proper services, Arbaugh noted.

The agency helps shelter guests reach out and gain access to area agencies offering job and life-skill training, medical care, spiritual care, everyday living essentials, nutritious meals and community-based housing. That includes help through the Community Action Council, the Department of Job and Family Services, the Aim Women’s Center, Coleman’s Services and the Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority, among others.

Last year, there were 399 guests who entered the Urban Mission’s shelters, Arbaugh stated. Of those, 50 percent were able to transition to permanent housing.

“We remain steadfast in our mission to provide healing, restoration and transformation for the most vulnerable members of our society,” Arbaugh said.

The Urban Mission continually evolves to meet the needs of the community. Even though times continue to change, its guiding motto remains the same: “To listen with compassion and serve with love.”

“When we help the most vulnerable in our area, we make our communities stronger,” Arbaugh said.

That is why the Urban Mission is inviting individuals, businesses and organizations to help make a lasting difference in the lives of those in need through the launch of this campaign — the role of the community’s involvement is vital, Arbaugh stated.

That’s why Urban Mission Ministries has launched the campaign. A monthly pledge or one-time gift would be greatly appreciated, Arbaugh commented. The cost for one day at a shelter is $25. The cost for one week is $175. The expense for one month is $750. And those figures are just for one person — oftentimes, entire families need assistance.

Contributions can be made online at urbanmission.org; by visiting the nonprofit’s Facebook video that provides a link for donations at facebook.com/share/v/1AYmfnjRHv/; or by mailing a check to: 311 N. Sixth St., Steubenville, OH 43952. For information, call 740-282-8010.

The nonprofit agency has been serving the Ohio Valley for more than six decades, adapting to meet the evolving needs of communities, while staying true to its core mission of compassion and service, Arbaugh explained. By providing essential resources, outreach and faith-based guidance, the organization continues to be a beacon of hope for those seeking a path to healing and transformation, she continued.