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The Beacon was founded on the idea that all people deserve a place to get out of the weather and enjoy a cup of hot coffee. Over the years we have expanded our mission to attempt to meet the needs of our clients, such as having a free P.O. Box that unhoused clients can use to access their mail. The Beacon also invites local resources to have a presence on site, allowing them to meet with their clients where they are, creating clearer pathways for their success. Our goal is to create a community of support where all of us can remember our shared humanity and help one another on the path to a better future.

The Beacon currrently serves an average of 120 people a day.
Beacon volunteers distribute mail to unhoused clients who use our P.O. Box to receive important documents to help them succeed in their goals. Having no place to receive mail is often a huge barrier to success for unhoused people.
Many local resources in York county maintain a weekly presence at the Beacon to connect with clients out of the office and out in the community where the clients are.
Our Little Lanterns Kids Space helps parents maintain supervision over their children while accessing the resources at the Beacon. It can be challenging to find safe spaces for children when facing difficult times.
Beacon volunteers serve coffee, lemonade, and iced tea to clients as well as any snacks from donations we receive. Sharing a cup of coffee with one another binds us together on the most basic human level and is the heartbeat of the Beacon and its mission.
Beacon Volunteers monitor our restrooms to make sure they maintain a safe and sanitary environment. The Beacon’s restrooms are a popular stop for many unhoused people to relieve themselves without fear of harassment or arrest.
The Beacon keeps cots available for clients to find some extra sleep during the day in a safe place. Many unhoused people lack good sleep at night out of fear for their own safety, harassment from community members, or general discomfort.

583

Homeless In York
(Updated Feb. 2025)

325

Homeless Households (Updated Feb. 2025)

ON ANY GIVEN DAY
These numbers change frequently.