Just steps from Pensacola Bay, the Waterfront Rescue Mission has been a beacon of hope for thousands of hungry and homeless men since August 1, 1949. The Mission meets the basic physical needs of the men who come for a place to sleep out of the weather. A tasty meal, a warm shower, a change of clean clothes and a caring counselor also greet each newcomer. In fact, the Pensacola Mission served more than 41,800 meals and provided 16,119 nights of lodging in 2006.

But the Pensacola Mission is much more than a first-responder facility.

Many men enroll in our Christ-centered drug and alcohol recovery Programs starting at the Pensacola Mission for a regimen of discipleship, counseling, daily Bible study, and work therapy. We then hope to transfer them to our New Hope Home facility in Gulf Breeze, Florida where they continue seeking God’s will for their lives. Many New Hope graduates continue on to our Career Development Center where they have opportunities to further their education and work skills.

The Downtown Mission now houses a Learning Lab used by the men and ladies in the first phase of our recovery programs. During their Learning Lab hours, students work on refreshing Basic Education Skills and depending on the individual and the program they are in, they may work on Basic Computer skills in Word and Excel, spend time in keyboarding practice or even work toward earning a GED. The Lab is now averaging 250 student/contact hours a month.