Mission Statement

To support and strengthen the community by compassionately addressing the needs of individuals and families experiencing a homeless crisis and providing a safe and healthy environment for women, families, and men to resolve their housing crisis. 

Vision

Our vision is to protect basic human rights and meet needs by providing safe shelter. We instill hope and provide support to our guests for their long-term success through empowerment, community engagement, and teamwork.

Shelter

The Van Buren Emergency Shelter plays a critical role in ending homelessness in Franklin County. The YMCA-operated facility embraces a Housing First approach, offers immediate and low barrier access to anyone facing a housing crisis, and measures shelter performance in order to improve results. The Van Buren Center serves up to 800 individuals every night, including families, women, and men, making it one of the largest in the nation.

Services

• Case Management
• Employment Resources
• Workshops
• On-site Medical Providers
• Educational Linkage
• Meal Service
• Housing Search Assistance