from staff
The City Rescue Mission plans an open house from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 22 for its renovated Downtown emergency services shelter, the New Life Inn.
The open house will include a tour, a volunteer appreciation ceremony and a barbecue.
City Rescue Mission Executive Director Patrick Hayle said the renovation increased the inn’s overnight bed capacity from 44 to 67. It also added six more showers and a dedicated storage and distribution area.
The New Life Inn, at 234 W. State St., provides food, clothing, shelter, counseling and emergency services to the homeless. Men and women, as well as women with children, come to New Life Inn nightly.
“We have seen a 30 percent increase in requests for services as more men and women fall through the safety net and end up on our city streets,” said Bill Duguid, the City Rescue Mission’s chief operating officer.
“Because of the support and compassion of our local donors and vendors, we were able to complete the renovation and continue serving more of the homeless and needy,” said Duguid.
City Rescue Mission is a nonprofit, faith-based organization that has provided help to the homeless and needy in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida since 1946. In addition to providing emergency services for the homeless, it offers programs such as New Day Workforce and LifeBuilders to help homeless people rebuild their lives.