History
A Brief Timeline of City Mission
1941
Founder The Reverend Burt McCausland (29) holds Washington City Mission’s first chapel in a small storeroom at 404 S. Main St., Washington PA.
1942
The Mission moves to 322 W. Chestnut St. A men’s dormitory opens with a 15 bed shelter and provides free meals to homeless and poor men. The staff holds Child Evangelism classes, Sunday school, nightly chapel, prayer meetings, street meetings, a weekly service at the County Jail and does visitation to hospitals, homes and the jail.
McCausland opens Hayes Avenue Mission, a branch of Washington City Mission. Around 60 children from the area participate in Sunday school, Child Evangelism classes, picnics and holiday events.
1943
On September 13, 1943, Burt McCausland and Avis Pattison marry and continue the work of Washington City Mission as co-superintendents
1950s
Mission continues to serve the poor and homeless of Washington and surrounding communities.
1963
First Christian Church, 84 W. Wheeling St., becomes home to Washington City Mission. The ministry expands services to the homeless and more than triples its shelter capacity. The Mission remains at this site today.
1977
Burt McCausland retires after 36 years of faithful service as superintendent of Washington City Mission.
1980
Rescue missions across the United States are addressing the problem of sheltering the country’s fastest growing population of homeless – the family.
1986
Avis Arbor Women’s Shelter, named after Avis McCausland, opens to become a safe haven to hurting homeless women and their children. Avis Arbor provides shelter, hot meals, counseling, spiritual guidance and security to 13 women and children.
1993
Francis L. King, then mayor of Washington, proclaims Washington City Mission Day to celebrate the millionth meal served. At this time, the Mission serves about 6,000 meals each month, and operates seven Helping Hand thrift stores. With a 70 bed capacity, the Mission is the largest shelter facility in the tri-county area.
2000
With the assistance and generosity of a local couple, Washington City Mission’s Board of Directors votes to acquire three buildings adjacent to the current location to be used for future shelter and transitional housing.
2003
An expanded Avis Arbor opens. The Mission remains the largest private shelter in the tri-county area with the capacity to service over 100 men, women and women with children. The Mission also serves over 118,000 meals annually.
2009
The Mission receives a grant from the Washington Hospital Authority to establish a Cognitive Enhancement Therapy Program at the Mission.
2011
The Washington City Mission celebrates its 70th anniversary of serving the poor, homeless and working poor in Washington County, PA, on February 7, 2011.