Albany Rescue Mission Calls on Community to Help Re-Open Women’s Dorm for Women’s Ministry

ALBANY – The Albany Rescue Mission has long served Albany’s homeless population with food, faith and even housing. Now, the agency is asking for community support to re-open its women’s ministry 

Amanda Lamb, the nonprofit’s outreach and public relations director, said the need for women’s shelter in Albany is dire. The Salvation Army, Liberty House and the soon-to-open Motif Sober Living, are the only spaces providing shelter for women. 

Lamb said staff with the Albany Rescue Mission speaks to women daily who need a place to stay. 

“Just a couple of Sundays ago, we had a lady sitting on our front porch needing a place,” she said. “We called everywhere outwards to Valdosta, and everywhere was full. That’s what brought this about – the heartbreak of telling someone that we have no idea where they can go.” 

Currently, the Rescue Mission has a men’s ministry, which provides shelter for men who participate in a “faith-based, work-based” program. In exchange for the safe haven, the men do work around the nonprofit’s property: cleaning, cooking, carpenter work and more. They can’t leave the premises without a chaperone and have to stay clean from drugs and alcohol as well as attend chapel services. 

A “den dad” oversees the space.

The Rescue Mission provides a place for men to get back on their feet. With safe shelter, they can put energy into building work skills, finding a job, getting clean and eventually moving out of the space. About 250 men have gone through this program over 35 years. 

“It gets people off the street and shows them God’s love and helps get them back into the community … and to move forward,” Lamb said. 

The Rescue Mission used to have a similar space for women, but it temporarily closed after the nonprofit could not find a person to serve as the “den mom.”

But recently, the Albany Rescue Mission received a call from someone willing to serve the ministry. The new den mom will move in this Saturday, and the shelter will re-open Sept. 8. 

The shelter will serve both women and children – with a capacity for eight women, not including the children. It’s a shared dorm space. Women also will participate in the faith and work. Lamb said they will most likely help with the cooking and organizing of the Rescue Mission’s thrift shop. 

The Mission already has raised some funds toward re-opening, but additional support is needed to fully restore th safe haven for women in need. The Albany Rescue Mission is raising money for a new roof, encouraging businesses to give $1,000 toward a goal of $10,500.

The shelter also is hosting a $100 challenge for people to donate funds that will go toward needs in the shelter like bedding. 

“We are not government funded, so we run off of the donors who give and love out of the goodness of their heart,” Lamb said. 

How You Can Help:

    •    Donate Online: Contributions can be made securely via PayPal at www.albanyrescuemission.org .

    •    Drop Off Donations: Monetary gifts also can be brought directly to the Albany Rescue Mission at 604 N Monroe St.

“Our women’s dorm is a place of safety, healing, and hope,” Larry Hample, the director of Albany Rescue Mission, said. “With the community’s help, we can once again provide shelter for women who have nowhere else to turn.”