Uniontown, Pa. – City Mission‑Living Stones is preparing the next phase of its Mission Place campus on Gallatin Avenue, a project that will bring nearly a dozen new units of permanent supportive housing to the community.
Phase V details
The upcoming Phase V will consist of an eight‑unit apartment building and an adjoining mixed‑use structure. The ground floor of the mixed‑use building will house a recreational space for youth, which can also serve as a training area for staff and a venue for larger events such as the annual Thanksgiving dinner for residents. The second floor will provide additional office space for City Mission, while the top floor will contain three more apartments.
Executive Director Irmi Gaut explained that the new youth space expands on the organization’s existing community room, allowing for job‑skill workshops and life‑skill training. Developer Sherry Skidmore added that the space will support both recreational and educational needs for young adults.
Existing housing and demand
Phase V’s 11 new units join the 42 units already operating on the Gallatin Avenue complex – 12 built as part of the original Mission Place and 30 units at the renovated Gallatin School Living Center, which also houses City Mission offices. Despite this inventory, a waiting list of roughly 90 individuals remains, according to Gaut.
The permanent supportive housing model is designed for working residents, low‑wage earners, and those who are homeless or formerly homeless. Skidmore noted that about 40 % of the agency’s clients are employed, contributing to the local economy even at modest wages.
Benefits beyond shelter
Combining housing with on‑site support services creates a multiplier effect. Gaut said residents experience fewer crisis hotline calls, reduced emergency‑room visits, and lower rates of crime. City Mission provides on‑site staff to address mental‑health concerns, transportation for grocery trips, and laundry facilities, all aimed at preventing unanticipated crises.
Funding and timeline
The eight‑unit residential building is estimated to cost $3.4 million, while the mixed‑use facility is projected at $2.6 million. Costs could shift if site grading or storm‑water management issues arise. The Fayette County Board of Commissioners recently approved an application for state HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding, and the project has already secured $300,000 from Pennsylvania’s PHARE Fund.
Gaut hopes to receive funding decisions by year’s end. If financing is approved, groundbreaking could occur in March or April, with partial construction completed by the end of 2027.
Future plans for the campus
Beyond Phase V, City Mission plans to transform a central courtyard into a green space for the roughly 120 Mission Place residents, many of whom lack personal transportation to parks such as Ohiopyle. The organization also intends to build a maintenance hub adjacent to the Gallatin School parking lot to coordinate services across its 14 buildings in nine Uniontown locations.
Gaut emphasized the importance of “curb appeal” and resident safety, noting that thoughtful paint colors, landscaping, and surveillance cameras help raise expectations for residents and reduce stigma attached to affordable housing.
City Mission‑Living Stones is not affiliated with the City Mission organization based in Washington, D.C.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
