City Rescue Mission of Lansing

What City Rescue Mission of Lansing does

City Rescue Mission of Lansing is a 501(c)(3) Christian ministry founded in 1911 in Lansing, Michigan, that provides food, shelter, and faith-based counseling to homeless and at-risk individuals in Michigan's capital area. Its core service suite comprises a men's emergency overnight shelter and drop-in center at 415 W Kalamazoo, a women's and children's shelter at 2216 S Cedar St, daily meal services averaging 357 meals per day, Hope counseling averaging 439 sessions per year, and a Safe Haven emergency shelter averaging 243 nightly occupants. The organization does not operate a technology product platform — its 'products' are direct social services delivered in person, with services funded entirely through donations.

The Mission generates revenue through three streams: (1) charitable financial donations from individuals, churches, and organizations, processed online, by mail, or via bank transfer and tax-deductible under its 501(c)(3) status; (2) in-kind donations of food, clothing, and household items accepted at its 601 N Larch donation center; and (3) sales revenue from the Uplift Thrift Store, which resells donated goods to support shelter operations. Services are provided free of charge to guests, who must meet six standard ADLs for shelter admission and demonstrate Tri-County residency preference.

In 2025 the Mission completed a $10.6 million Mission Expansion Project combining two former office buildings on W Kalamazoo, doubling single-adult shelter capacity from 240 to 304 nightly occupants. The organization maintains a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating and Guidestar Platinum Transparency 2024 recognition, and was led through 2026 by Mark Criss until Randy Barton — a 13-year Mission veteran — was unanimously appointed by the board as the new Executive Director.

Name

City Rescue Mission of Lansing

Legal name

City Rescue Mission of Lansing

Website

https://bearescuer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The City Rescue Mission of Lansing is a 501(c)(3) Christian ministry founded in 1911 that provides free food, emergency overnight shelter, drop-in services, and faith-based counseling to homeless adults, women, and children in Michigan's capital area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAB

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAIANAC

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Housing, Urban Planning & Community Development

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homeless services ministry
• Food and meal programs
• Christian nonprofit counseling
• Thrift store operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The organization relies on financial donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. Donations can be made online, by mail, or through bank transfer. The Mission is a 501(c)(3), making gifts tax-deductible.
2. In-Kind Donations: Accepts donations of food, clothing, and household items at the donation center located at 601 N Larch, Lansing MI 48912.
3. Thrift Store Sales: Operates Uplift Thrift store selling donated items to generate revenue supporting shelter operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

City Rescue Mission of Lansing operates a 501(c)(3) Christian ministry providing emergency shelter, daily meals, and counseling services to homeless individuals in Michigan's capital area. The Mission runs a men's overnight shelter, a women's and children's shelter, a nightly drop-in center, food services averaging 357 meals per day, and Hope counseling averaging 439 sessions per year, alongside a Uplift Thrift Store and a multi-million-dollar Mission Expansion Project that doubled single-adult capacity.

Product overview

City Rescue Mission of Lansing is a 501(c)(3) Christian ministry offering a unified suite of shelter and social services to Michigan's capital area. The core offerings include: overnight emergency shelter for men (at 415 W. Kalamazoo) and women with children (at 2216 S Cedar St), daily meal services averaging 357 meals per day, a drop-in center for homeless individuals operating nightly, Hope counseling services, and the Uplift Thrift Store. The Mission Expansion Project (a major capital expansion) is underway to double shelter capacity. Services operate 24/7 with guests required to meet six standard ADLs for shelter admission. The organization does not offer a technology product platform—its 'products' are direct social services provided to the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dinner Services Evening meal service provided daily at 415 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing MI 48933, with sign-in before 6pm and ID required; offered to homeless and low-income guests.
• Men's Shelter Emergency overnight shelter for men at 415 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing MI 48933; sign-in from 6pm-6:55pm based on availability; Tri-County preference; guests must meet six standard ADLs.
• Women's and Children's Shelter Emergency shelter for women and their children at 2216 S Cedar St, Lansing MI 48910; Tri-County preference; sign-in at 4:15pm based on availability; guests must meet six standard ADLs.
• Drop-in Center (The Outreach) Nighttime services for homeless individuals at 415 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing MI 48933, operating from 7:30pm to 5am; available at any time as needed; guests must meet six standard ADLs.
• Uplift Thrift Store Thrift store operated by the Mission, accepting volunteer support and selling donated items at affordable prices to the Lansing community to generate revenue supporting shelter operations.
• Food Services Soup kitchen and meal programs averaging 357 meals daily, including breakfast and dinner services for shelter guests and walk-in community members.
• Hope Counseling Yearly counseling services averaging 439 sessions, providing spiritual and emotional support to shelter guests grounded in the Mission's Christian ministry identity.
• Safe Haven Emergency Shelter Emergency overnight shelter services averaging 243 individuals nightly, providing safe refuge for homeless individuals across the Lansing tri-county area.
• Mission Expansion Project Major facility expansion at 415 W. Kalamazoo enabling doubled capacity for single adults; includes new shower/bathroom facilities and expanded food service area; estimated total cost $10.6 million with remaining $250,000 needed for elevator upgrades and $3.5 million construction loan outstanding.
• Donation Center Accepts donated items at 601 N Larch, Lansing MI 48912, open M-F 10am-6pm and Sat 12pm-4pm; integrates an Amazon Wish List for direct online giving of needed supplies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2511 individuals helped last year with shelter and food services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Michigan ImageryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned to create a metal art sculpture repurposing pieces from the old 'Jesus Saves' cross frame. Sculpture and installation quoted at $2,750. Creative partnership to honor the legacy of the iconic cross.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is the dominant global faith-based provider of emergency shelter, food service, and thrift-funded social programs. It is a broad incumbent operating the same integrated model (shelter + meals + thrift stores + donations) at much larger scale, making it the standard structural and fundraising analog for smaller rescue missions.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul: St. Vincent de Paul is a national Catholic nonprofit that funds shelter, food, and housing assistance through parish-based donations and thrift stores. Its integrated thrift-plus-direct-services model parallels the Mission's structure and donor flow.
• Goodwill Industries of Michigan: Goodwill Industries of Michigan operates thrift retail stores whose proceeds fund workforce and community programs. Its donation-plus-thrift revenue model is structurally similar to the Mission's Uplift Thrift, though its mission emphasis is job training rather than shelter.
• Volunteers of America: Volunteers of America is a large national nonprofit operating housing, shelter, and human services programs across the U.S. It overlaps with the Mission's shelter and supportive services mission but operates at much greater breadth and scale.

Emerging players

• Alpha USA: Alpha USA is a faith-based nonprofit delivering Christian content and adjacent community services across the U.S. It is an emerging player in the broader faith-social-services ecosystem that intersects with the Mission's spiritual-care and outreach work.

Direct peers

• Grand Rapids Rescue Mission Ministries: Grand Rapids Rescue Mission Ministries is a faith-based shelter and food service organization in West Michigan serving homeless men, women, and children. Its service model, faith orientation, and Michigan footprint make it a direct peer for benchmarking and donor benchmarking.
• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries: Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is a Christian nonprofit serving homeless and addiction-affected populations in Michigan with emergency shelter, meals, and recovery programming. It is the closest in-state analog in size, faith-based mission, and integrated services model to the City Rescue Mission of Lansing.
• Holland Rescue Mission: Holland Rescue Mission is a smaller Michigan Christian rescue mission providing shelter, meals, and food pantry services. It mirrors the Lansing Mission's operating model at smaller scale and shares its donor-base characteristics and faith-based positioning.
• Mel Trotter Ministries: Mel Trotter Ministries operates in Grand Rapids, Michigan as a Christian rescue mission offering emergency shelter, food, and recovery services to the homeless. It is a direct peer given the same religious foundation, shelter-plus-meals service mix, and Michigan operating geography.

Regional players

• Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, Clinton counties: Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties serves the same Lansing tri-county geography with emergency assistance, housing support, and food programs. It competes for the same donor pool and government contracts locally, making it the most direct regional peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BEaRESCUER
• Instagraminstagram.com/BE_a_RESCUER
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-rescue-mission-of-lansing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City Rescue Mission of Lansing