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I light of recent public debates surrounding the Atlantic City Rescue Mission’s new office in Egg Harbor City, the Mission would like to make this official statement to help shed some light on our intentions with that location and clear up any miss conceptions surrounding this story. Ultimately we are most interested in working with the city to clear up the confusion expeditiously so we can move on to the real work of helping people in need. The attached Press Release is the Atlantic City Rescue Mission’s official response to the recent public debates about the Egg Harbor facility. We hope that you will find it important enough to include in your new cycle.
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For Immediate ReleaseContact: [email protected]: Cathleen Hanclich, Director of DevelopmentCompany: Atlantic City Rescue MissionNumber: (609) 345-5517 ext 120Web: www.acrescuemission.org
AC RESCUE MISSION: THERE’S HELP AVAILABLE FOR MIDDLE AMERICA
February 5, 2010 – The Atlantic City Rescue Mission opened its Egg Harbor City office to help people stay in their homes, and then found itself in the middle of a city council debate about building usage.
“I think one fear that people have when you move into their community is that it will attract homeless people, or crime, or drugs into the neighborhood,” said Rescue Mission President and CEO Bill Southrey. “I want to make it very clear: there are no services at this office for street homeless, or drug users, or criminals. This office only helps keep people in middle America from losing their homes because of layoffs, job loss, or disabling illness. We can help a family if housing is lost or needed and we can assist a family in finding a new place.”
The Rescue Mission received government contracts to administer HPRP funds. The target population for this funding is individuals and families who are currently in housing but are at risk of becoming homeless and need temporary assistance to prevent them from becoming homeless. Financial assistance available to qualified applicants includes rental assistance and utility assistance. Another state-funded program that the Mission administers can help people with their mortgage payments to prevent foreclosures.
“The goals of these programs,” says Southrey, “are to alleviate people’s economic suffering. For the past six or seven months we’ve been getting about 100 phone calls per day from people -- not homeless people, but people in their own housing -- seeking help and assistance. These programs can help them, and are helping them.”
“I don’t want this current debate about Egg Harbor City or the building to take attention away from the main message,” says Southrey. “That if you or someone you know is struggling, or unemployment is about to run out, or you can’t pay the utilities, there is help.”
Southrey has advice for people facing tough economic times: “Call the Mission or one of the other agencies in our network that helps people stay in their homes: Salvation Army, Homelessness Prevention, Catholic Charities, or Mizpah Inland Human Services. South Jersey Legal Services can help if there are tenant/landlord disputes. The Mission can start by giving you a food basket at the Atlantic City facility so you’ll save money on food. Just make a call,” he says, “There is help available.”
About the Atlantic City Rescue MissionThe Atlantic City Rescue Mission is the largest emergency shelter provider in southern New Jersey. Those in need receive hot meals, season-appropriate clothing, and shelter, in addition to comprehensive services such as counseling, medical attention from an on-site clinic, and employment and housing locator services. To find our more about how to help the homeless in our area, visit www.acresceumission.org.
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