Mission Makers
For more than 80 years, the Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) has been a beacon of hope for the homeless population in Birmingham by providing food, shelter, and other services. JHM is now taking steps to expand their reach by adding a year-round emergency-plus shelter and service hub. “It will provide a safe place to sleep, warm meals, showers, laundry facilities, case management, mental health services, basic medical care and emergency dental care to our most vulnerable neighbors, as well as shelter to their pets who, many times, are the only family they have,” JHM Executive Director Perryn Carroll says. 
The shelter will be directly across the street from JHM’s Downtown Men’s Center. Why? “The location gives us the efficiency of using our present commercial kitchen, the accessibility to adjust staffing as needed and the ability to transition men and women to our programs seamlessly,” Carroll explains. Through serving as a warming station during the winter months, JHM realized “that we are able to reach the most broken and vulnerable in our community through emergency care.” The new facility will allow JHM to meet the basic needs of more people in Birmingham all while “building relationships and trust needed to give the broken the confidence to take the next step toward a better life,” Carroll explains.
Construction of the emergency shelter is expected to take nine to ten months. JHM has secured $1 million of the $4.4 million needed for construction. How can you help? Carroll first asks for prayer. “We feel like God is challenging us to care for His children who are most in need and we ask that you pray for our obedience to His calling and for provision to bring this much-needed facility to our community,” she says. You can also donate financially at www.jimmiehalemission.com/capital. To learn more about JHM and the current three facilities- Royal Pines, Shepura Men’s Center, and Jessie’s Place- visit www.jimmiehalemission.com.
-Melissa Armstrong
