The work training portion of the Mission Disciples program teaches residents new skills and helps them to save some money that enables them to get back on their feet.
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New Orleans Mission residents come from all walks of life and each has their own story of struggle, and — with the help of the mission — redemption thanks to the lodging, training, counseling and care of the largest faith-based private service provider to the homeless population of Greater New Orleans. The mission boasts multiple ways for businesses of all sizes to join with them in changing the lives of New Orleanians.
92 Biz March 2017
regular biblical teachings, life skills training, counseling and a work program that helps residents save money to get on their feet. The discipleship program is part of an overall transformation that has taken place at the shelter in recent years that also includes major structural renovations to the main building on O.C. Haley Boulevard. In addition to the 32 women currently living in the shelter on the South Shore, the mission also bought the K Bar B Youth Ranch, a 60-acre property on the North Shore, and renamed it the Giving Hope Retreat in the fall of 2015. That facility includes several dormitories, a basketball court and a swimming pool and will eventually become a home to those enrolled in the discipleship program. Currently there are 72 men living at the North Shore retreat. By the end of 2017,
the mission hopes to add 50 more Last Year beds at the retreat center. the New Under the helm of David Bottner, Orleans the shelter’s executive director, the Mission Provided: New Orleans Mission began a $6.1 million renovation last summer. The first step was to renovate the 69,461 roof and facade of the mission’s nights of lodging; building on O.C. Haley. The first phase, which cost approximately $1.1 million to complete, was 20,492 covered in large part using state hours of money and historic tax credits. vocational “What I envisioned when I first training; came to the mission was seeing it like a hospital that people could come to to get whatever help they needed,” 2,016 hours of Bottner says. counseling The reality, however, was quite different. “The mission used to be a place 239,797 where we could just barely make meals ends meet,” he says. “The facility served looked bad and smelled bad. I could
The Mission’s “Sharing and Caring Community Outreach Experience” is an opportunity for groups or individuals to offer help and love to hurting people. It also makes for an impactful corporate outing or teambuilding experience. First, buses pick up the corporate group at a designated location then bring them to the Mission for an introduction. Then, the group is transported to the grocery store where they will purchase personalized grocery bags, which they bring to outreach locations all over the city where people in need are waiting. Mission Media Productions, the Mission’s creative team which is run by some of its the disciples, can also photograph the outing and produce a short documentary for the participating company. Volunteer opportunities are available on both the Southshore and Northshore.