HISTORY

Mission House grew out of the compassion and dedication of the faith community at the Beach.  For more than a decade, the St. Francis Seaside Ministry and many caring individuals served meals to the homeless and poor from under tents, in parish halls, out of church basements and the back deck of a station wagon.  The Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM), and the Beaches Community Kitchen  provided assistance to the poor and needy living at the Beach. These organizations and other caring individuals met to look for solutions to the issues facing the homeless and working poor in the Beaches communities.  Providing a hot meal and clean clothes for the homeless was not enough to make meaningful changes in anyone’s life. 

The Homeless face many obstacles striving to live on the street.  Sometimes from choices they have made; sometimes from choices that are beyond their control.  The Homeless are always searching for a safe haven, always on the move with all their worldly possessions.  With little opportunity to bathe or wash clothes, they often appear disheveled and dirty.  Many men and women suffer from mental illness, ranging from depression to psychotic disorders.  Substance abuse plays a heavy role in many lives, especially among the mentally ill.  With no address and phone number to put on  job application, the homeless do not get hired by most employers.  Years of hard living outside, poor nutrition, physical abuse, trauma induced disease, broken family ties, substance abuse, especially alcohol, and scarce to nonexistent medical care, leave many homeless men and women unable to make a transition back to a stable life on their own.

Mission House was created to help meet those needs through compassion, faith and programs designed to provide assistance at an individual level.  With the purchase and renovation of the property on Shetter Avenue in Jacksonville Beach, the dreams and prayers of many were realized.  Opening in February, 1997, Mission House provided meals, showers, clean clothing, and hope.  Men and women living on the street, families stranded by situation and circumstance, people dazed by mental illness or substance abuse, and anyone in need of a helping hand offered with an open heart; now had somewhere to turn. 

With the assistance of other service providers in the community, Mission House offers employment programs through Goodwill Options, mental health services through Quest, clothing vouchers through Goodwill Beaches Center, and spiritual counseling when requested.  Clients are required to enter into an employment, medical or mental health program by the time they have eaten 30 meals at Mission House.  Our Case Manager works with clients to create a structured program designed for them to take responsibility for their actions and make positive moves to help themselves. 

One of the critical issues facing the homeless is the lack of medical care.  From its inception, Mission House planned to build a clinic to help remedy this situation. Working in partnership with the Baptist  Medical Center Beaches, the First Annual Beach Ball was held in May, 1998.  Proceeds from the Beach Ball funded the design and construction of an addition for medical facilities and office space.  In October, 1998, the Mission House Clinic saw their first patient to begin a continuum of care for the homeless and needy at the Beach.  Working with the We Care Referral System, Mission House operates a Clinic for the homeless and medically uninsured on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.  Volunteer doctors, nurses, medical clerical and technical personnel provide medical care to hundreds of people every month.  Some of the medical supplies and equipment for the clinic are donated by hospitals, doctor’s offices, and drug companies.  Funds from organizations and foundations are used for needed medicines and medical supplies for Mission House patients.