PITTSBURGH — The City Mission in Washington, Pennsylvania, doesn't look like a mission, with its handsome dark-red buildings trimmed in white.

Across the street, inmates from the Washington County Jail hang out on a fenced-in balcony and look down at the hub of activity. Some of those inmates will make their way to the mission after their release.

The Christian-based homeless shelter bustles with men, women and families — temporary residents — working through therapy, on educational certifications, job searches, spiritual journeys, recovery from addiction and mental health issues.

Almost 70% of the homeless people who stay there 90 days or more find employment, housing, or secure disability status, said Dean Gartland, the mission's recently retired president/CEO and now president emeritus.

Those staying less than 90 days have a 51% success rate of independence.

"I wish we had a 100% success rate," Gartland said.

The Canonsburg resident has spent his career moving the needle: The mission's success rate 15 years ago for people who stayed 90 days or more was about 36%. For stays less than 90 days, it was 20%, he said.

There are hard realities.

Not everybody is employable. Some have severe mental health issues and they need help in securing disability benefits, Gartland said. The mission assists them with securing those benefits.

Light of Gartland's life

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