Mission House hosting open house for community in honor of 25 years serving the Beaches
Jacksonville Beach, Fla. (March 21, 2022) – Long before the physical presence of Mission House was established on Shetter Avenue, four churches and hundreds of volunteers fed and clothed people in need from the Beaches, often from church kitchens or the back end of station wagons. Thanks to Christ Episcopal, Palms Presbyterian, St. Paul’s Catholic and St. Paul’s Episcopal and the financial support of 162 community members, Mission House has been serving those impacted by homelessness since 1997.
In honor of our 25th anniversary, Mission House is opening its doors to our community, the first time the organization has been able to do so in more than two years. On Friday, March 25, 2022, from 6-9 p.m., community supporters are invited to tour the facility, learn about its foundational programs and services, as well as its latest initiatives including the Lawrence Project, a new mental health program, as well as its workforce development project called Pillars of Progress.
“Welcoming those who have supported this important work for so many years is such an honor for Mission House,” said Carina Saladino, Mission House executive director. “It’s hard for most people to imagine the uncertainty, stress and fear that comes with not knowing when your next meal will be or where you’ll sleep at night. With more than 1,500 individuals homeless in Northeast Florida on any given day, there’s a lot of anxious, worried people. Our staff is incredibly grateful we’re able to continue serving those affected by homelessnes thanks to the support of our community.”
This Friday’s event kicks off a year-long series of initiatives Mission House is launching in recognition of its silver anniversary including refreshed mission and vision statements, a new logo and website, and other special events, all efforts designed to ensure the organization is able to continue serving the Beaches community for at least another 25 years.
Saladino shares, “Homelessness is a complicated issue, one that every U.S. city grapples with, but homelessness is solvable and the answer is housing. Unfortunately the lack of affordable housing in the Jacksonville Beach area is what limits Mission House from successfully housing more of our clients. However, despite these challenges, we’ve successfully housed hundreds of people over the past 25 years.”
One of the keys to ending homelessness is having a system that works and does so quickly. Homeless service providers like Mission House can only house as many people as there are housing units, and the housing vacancy rate is less than 10 percent in Jacksonville, not accounting for the fact that most market-rate housing is outside the range of affordability for persons experiencing homelessness. Despite these challenges, Mission House has successfully implemented its rapid re-housing program, a national best practice proven to end episodes of homelessness quickly and effectively.
Mission House is the only day facility in Jacksonville Beach working to end homelessness in Northeast Florida by providing housing assistance, health care and supportive services, including food, clothing, and case management while inspiring hope and rebuilding lives. For more information regarding Mission House, contact: Carina Saladino | (904) 241-6767, ext. 114 | csaladino@missionhousejax.org or www.missionhousejax.org.