Pensacola Mission Relocation Campaign
Waterfront Rescue Mission believes that caring for the poor and homeless is not an option; it is a mandate from the Lord. Never before has the need to care for those less fortunate been more pressing. A growing demand for meals, beds and services for homeless men, women and children is occurring all over the state of Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Children and Families Office on Homelessness 57,643 people were homeless on any given night in 2010 in the State of Florida. During certain months in 2010 the Waterfront Rescue Mission experienced a 60 percent increase in nights of shelter at the Pensacola Men's Shelter alone.
A New Location
Waterfront Rescue Mission has embarked on a journey to move to 350 West Herman Street in Pensacola, FL. This new location will provide nearly four times more space for sheltering and feeding the homeless and includes room to expand.
A separate 7,200 square foot Day Resource Center will provide a safe place for homeless men, women and children to come during the day for assistance. No other day shelter like this currently exists in Pensacola.
The new facilities are withing walking distance to the Health Department, ECAT and Workforce EscaRosa, which will ease the burden for those in need of transportation to these services.
The Herman Street facilities affords the Mission room to expand programs and services enabling us to meet the growing needs of the county's homeless population. The current shelter in downtown Pensacola does not have a Day Resource Center and only provides 8,500 square feet for both the homeless shelter and phase one of the Mission's Recovery Program. In contrast, the Herman Street location will offer a 32,000 square foot Rescue Mission and a separate 7,200 square foot Day Resource Center.
An Amazing Opportunity
We are excited about our relocation to Herman Street because it will allow us to significantly increase the amount of services we provide and enhance our impact on the community.
At the new Rescue Mission we are looking forward to:
-providing our community with a hardened structure that will serve as the specialty disaster shelter for the homeless in the greater Pensacola area
-increasing the availability of beds from 65 to 124
-providing a dedicated area for 10 respite beds
-providing space for veterans who are waiting for veteran benefits (i.e. housing, pension, medical benefits, etc.)
-providing room for men in the first phase of our recovery program
-increasing the dining area from 655 square feet to 3,590 square feet
-increasing space for classes and counseling
-increasing safety and security
-greater opportunities for volunteer participation
At the Day Resource Center we are looking forward to:
-providing a safe place for our homeless men and women to receive help during the day
-offering a Learning Center with computers and other resources
-providing a laundry facility and a mail and phone center
-managing a suite of offices and group rooms where community service providers will rotate through to support and meet the needs of the area's poor and homeless
-coordinating with community service providers who will be able to provide a variety of services to those in need (medical, dental, vision, veteran, literacy, etc.)
How You Can Help!
Waterfront Rescue Mission cannot reach our $5.38 million campaign goal without your generosity. Your contribution is critically needed and will help provide hope for a brighter tomorrow for Penscola's homeless men, women and children. You can lend your support by calling 888-853-8655 or by sending a check payable to Waterfront Rescue Mission and designating your donation for Building Hope For Tomorrow.
We appreciate your support!