TRENTON -- Day in and day out, people who often have nowhere else to turn take refuge at the Rescue Mission of Trenton for a warm meal, a hot shower, a chance to do laundry and a place to lay their heads.

But now, the 101-year-old nonprofit is grappling with its own crisis and is turning to the community for help.

CEO Mary Gay Abbott-Young said the mission's emergency shelter and services program -- only a portion of its total budget -- costs around $1.2 million a year to operate, but is running a deficit of $400,000.

She says the mission can provide half of the money needed to close the shortfall, but needs the help of residents, businesses, foundations and other community groups to raise an additional $200,000 by June 30.

"When we have a financial crisis in the shelter, it kind of rocks us to our core," she said.

Abbott-Young says there are several factors that contribute to the shelter's financial troubles.

There are a greater number of people coming into the shelter who struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues, its store on Carroll Street brings in far less income than in years past and there are more expenses that come with the county's shift toward providing wraparound services and permanent housing.

"No one can argue that when we have a homeless person, the first thing we want to do is figure out how to get them into housing," Abbott-Young said. "It's the right thing to do, but it's an also an expense to our shelter."

Last year, the shelter accommodated 1,256 individuals over 45,000 shelter stays.

Abbott-Young says the need is never going to go away, but the operating costs continue to add up with around-the-clock staff, food, custodial services, building maintenance, pest control, electricity and water for showers and laundry -- not only for shelter users to clean their clothes, but for the staff to wash hundreds of blankets, sheets and pillowcases each day.

Barrett Young, the chief operating officer, said there are also large hidden costs associated with helping the chronically homeless move permanently off the streets.

He said the transition to life outside the shelter can be especially difficult for those who suffer from severe mental illness or substance abuse and they require daily case management and counseling.

"It's important to us to use all of the resources that the mission has ... to make sure that our programming is constantly moving slightly ahead of the needs of those we serve," Abbott-Young said. "The cost today is not only to run a very good shelter, but to add in the cost of the support services that are necessary to then help that person end their homelessness."

For years, profits from the used furniture and clothing the mission salvages and resells at its store went to the shelter's budget. But as the poor has become poorer, most of the store's customers are now people who can't afford to shop elsewhere.

"What at one time was a thriving business, a money-maker for the Rescue Mission is now part of our social services operation," Abbott-Young said.

She said the shelter has also seen a cut in state funding after the state began interpreting the rules governing emergency assistance differently. Now fewer people are eligible for payments and the shelter receives less reimbursement.

"I'd like the state to look at what that does to the safety net of this community and if the safety net is being ripped apart, would you look at other ways to shore up that safety net?" she said.

Abbott-Young says she's confident in the community's willingness and ability to help the Rescue Mission in its time of need.

"I believe that we're going to find a way to bridge that deficit to a significant level that will allow the shelter to continue," she said. "We're going to work very hard between now and June 30 so the only thing that happens on June 30 is that July 1 comes. ... We have an obligation to the people that we serve."

She said moving forward, having a solid financial plan and continuing to forge partnerships with other area nonprofits and groups will help get the mission on stable footing.

In addition to providing emergency services, the mission provides residential and outpatient addiction treatment programs, job training and "permanent supportive housing," meaning tenants sign a lease and stay as long as they like, paying a monthly rent.

For more information, visit rescuemissionoftrenton.org.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.