{"id":17466,"date":"2026-03-13T10:52:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T10:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/17466\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T10:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T10:52:14","slug":"dreams-of-a-shared-shelter-in-lebanon-moves-closer-to-becoming-a-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/17466\/","title":{"rendered":"Dreams of a shared shelter in Lebanon moves closer to becoming a reality"},"content":{"rendered":"

The dream of an $8.5 million shelter for women, their children and seniors at the Lebanon Rescue Mission took a huge step Thursday, March 12, towards becoming a reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mission representatives and numerous project officials turned over shovels of wet turf during a groundbreaking ceremony for Agape Safe Haven, which will be located directly across from the mission\u2019s headquarters in the 1200 block of Bittner Blvd., Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cA very heartfelt thank you to the leadership team at the Lebanon Rescue Mission,\u201d said Susan Blouch, CEO and executive director of Lebanon Rescue Mission, during comments to about 100 gathered guests. \u201dThey never stop dreaming, they never stop praying, and they are truly a dream team. To God be the glory, Agape Safe Haven, will be a testament to what God and his people can do when nothing is impossible and everything is left in his hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\tCheers and joy abound as Lebanon Rescue Mission officials break ground for the new Agape Safe Haven shelter in Lebanon, which will be located directly across from the mission\u2019s headquarters. <\/p>\n

Following the groundbreaking on a cold and windy day, Blouch said work is scheduled to begin by the end of the month with a planned opening by April 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There will be 40 total bedrooms with 16 designated for seniors and the rest for women and their children who will occupy just under 200 available beds, she said.<\/p>\n

Blouch said capacity at the existing shelters has exceeded available space.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tWIth a hard hat nearby, Susan Blouch, CEO and executive director of Lebanon Rescue Mission, offers comments about the pending construction of a shelter for women, their children, and seniors at the Agape Safe Haven, a new combined home being constructed in the former Goodman Vending property, which is located directly across from the mission\u2019s headquarters on Bittner Boulevard in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, over this past winter with so much cold weather, we ran 30% over occupancy. We often had as many as 75 in a building that really should sleep 55. So there\u2019s no less need today than ever. We will have 40 rooms in the new facility, 103 beds, which will give us a total for men, women with children and seniors of 185 beds altogether.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Part of the structure will be one floor and a portion will contain two floors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will have some rooms that are adjoined on each floor. So if we have a woman that has five children, we can open up those rooms into an adjoining room so that they have room for the whole family,\u201d Blouch said after noting that the expansion will triple current capacity. \u201cOriginally, the need for the expansion was for women with children. But over the last two years, we\u2019ve seen this explosion of senior homelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n

That led mission leadership to make a pivotal decision while this project was in its early stages.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tThe floor design for the Agape Safe Haven shelter being constructed by the Lebanon Rescue Mission between now and next April. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew we had to do a building that would meet both of those needs. Which is why originally, it was gonna be a one-story building. and we eventually decided while we were doing it, we were gonna put up a bigger building and put a second floor on to meet (the needs of) both populations,\u201d added Blouch.<\/p>\n

Located at 1250-1310 Bittner Blvd. in the former Goodman Vending property, Blouch said construction will last 12 months and cost approximately $6.5 million. Purchase of the property, all-site and environmental studies, permitting, architecture & engineering fees, equipment, and shelter furnishings will run another $2 million.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tThis chart shows that $5 million of the needed $8.5 million for construction of the Agape Safe Haven shelter has been raised so far. Included in that total is a $1 million donation this week that\u2019s being combined with the sale of two Lebanon Rescue Mission properties and a federal grant of $1.5 million. <\/p>\n

The project is being funded by the sale of two former LRM properties at the corner of Ninth and Walnut streets in Lebanon and private donations. A total of $5 million of the expected $8.5 million has been raised through Thursday with a major financial boost coming earlier this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI received\u00a0a phone call from a donor that pledged $1 million,\u201d Blouch told LebTown afterwards. \u201cIt\u2019s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of call.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another boost to the project\u2019s financing occurred in late February when the mission was awarded a $1.5 million grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tSigns on the former property of Goodman Vending announce the future home of Agape Safe Haven and show the final design of the new shelter for women with children and seniors. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis grant represents more than funding. It represents hope,\u201d Blouch stated in a press release provided to the media about the grant that was awarded on Feb. 20. \u201cThe Agape Safe Haven expansion will significantly increase Lebanon Rescue Mission\u2019s capacity to serve individuals experiencing homelessness by providing structural housing, supportive services, medical care access, and faith-based restoration programming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blouch noted that a majority of the funds needed to make the shelter possible was raised in less than one year.<\/p>\n

Max Meyers, men\u2019s ministry director, summed up the feelings of many involved with the project during the opening invocation for the program, which occurred indoors due to the cold and windy weather and prior to other comments from various dignitaries.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, we are so blown away by your abundant grace towards the Lebanon community through the Ministry of the Lebanon Rescue Mission over the past 80 years. Father, we look forward and with eager expectation to see the transformation that will take place in the very place that we are standing right now,\u201d Meyers said. \u201cThe children who will receive security, the women who will receive shelter and love and care for senior citizens. And father, it\u2019s so much more than just a meal in the bed; we will see life change happen here because of who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) addresses the assembled audience about the blessing of having the Lebanon Rescue Mission aid individuals in their time of need. <\/p>\n

Karen Groh, president of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, who served as event master of ceremonies spoke of community involvement. Similar sentiments were echoed by state Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48). Groh also serves on the mission\u2019s board of directors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she really said it best when she talked about this community and how supportive this community is for the people in need. And it always has been something that I\u2019ve taken great pride in being part of this Lebanon community because we do rally to each other\u2019s needs when that time arises,\u201d Gebhard said. \u201cAnd the rest of the mission has certainly been one of those pillars in that whole process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tLebanon County Commissioners Jo Ellen Litz, Mike Kuhn, and Bob Phillips attend Thursday\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n

All three Lebanon County Commissioners attended the ceremony, with Jo Ellen Litz noting its been her privilege to watch the mission grow while commissioner Mike Kuhn mentioned the mission\u2019s good works and commissioner Bob Phillips praised the generational values of the many volunteers who help drive the mission to achieve its goals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lebanon city mayor Sherry Capello said she\u2019s proud the facility will be located within the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a need you\u2019re going to be fulfilling, and I\u2019m just so proud of you and want to do what I can to support you and your efforts to make this a reality,\u201d Capello said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\tGuests listen to speakers discuss the pending construction of the Agape Safe Haven of the Lebanon Rescue Mission from inside the building that will be remodeled in addition to a section that will be added for the 25,000 square foot shelter located in Lebanon. <\/p>\n

Blouch said the team is excited about the prospects of providing a place to call home for women, their children and seniors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are just so excited to be at this moment in time so quickly. The actual equipment in the ground should happen before the end of March, so we\u2019re very excited about that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Questions about this story? Suggestions for a future LebTown article? Reach our newsroom using this contact form and we\u2019ll do our best to get back to you.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Be part of Lebanon County\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

Cancel anytime.<\/p>\n

Still no paywall!<\/p>\n

Fewer ads<\/p>\n

Exclusive events and emails<\/p>\n

All monthly benefits <\/p>\n

Most popular option<\/p>\n

Make a bigger impact<\/p>\n

Join the 1,000+ readers who support our work as members<\/p>\n

Already a member? Log in here to hide these messages<\/a><\/p>\n

Strong communities need someone keeping an eye on local institutions. LebTown holds leaders accountable, reports on decisions affecting your taxes and schools, and ensures transparency at every level. Support this work with a monthly<\/a> or annual<\/a> membership, or make a one-time contribution<\/a>. Cancel anytime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The dream of an $8.5 million shelter for women, their children and seniors at the Lebanon Rescue Mission…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17467,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[9040,3108,93,9041,8833,2615],"class_list":{"0":"post-17466","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lebanon","8":"tag-agape-safe-haven","9":"tag-featured","10":"tag-lebanon","11":"tag-lebanon-county-commissioners","12":"tag-lebanon-rescue-mission","13":"tag-shareimmediately"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@iran\/116221492758563574","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17466\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}