The Buffalo City Mission has launched its Fall Campaign, with a goal of raising $2.47 million by the end of the year.
Fall is perhaps the most important important time for the region's largest homeless shelter, raising nearly a third of organization’s annual operating budget.
"Homelessness continues to be a serious and unchecked blight in the Western New York area," said City Mission CEO and Executive Director Stuart Harper.
Harper said more than 30% of people in Buffalo live below the poverty line and more than 77% are experiencing homelessness for the first time.
Last year, the City Mission served more than 158,000 meals and provided 73,691 safe nights of sleep shelter.