Jimmie Hale Mission

The Jimmie Hale Mission is a provider of meals, shelter and services to Birmingham's homeless population. It was founded in March 1944 by James William Hale, a former alcoholic, and his wife Jessie as a storefront chapel at 2117 2nd Avenue North, the same building where Jimmie had once tended bar. In November 1944, Jimmie died and his 27-year old widow, pregnant with their child, took over operation of the fledgling mission. It was relocated several times until finding its current home in 1950.

She was joined in 1954 by a railroad worker and Southeastern Bible College student, Leo Shepura, who became co-superintendent and stayed for 36 years. That Thanksgiving the Mission served its first meal.

The Jimmie Hale Mission has grown into a $4.36 million/year comprehensive charity mission providing on average over 150 beds and 475 meals per day along with chapel and bible study services, counseling and case management.

The Mission receives no Federal or United Way money and is supported entirely by private donations and through its three Mission Possible thrift stores. Tony Cooper has served as Executive Director since 1990. The Mission operates four centers around the city.

Facilities

Brother Leo Men's Center

The Men's center is the Jimmie Hale Mission's primary location at 2403 3rd Avenue North, on the southeast corner of the intersection with 24th Street North downtown. The center houses a shelter for transient men with clothing distribution, a community soup kitchen, nightly chapel services and a 16-week addiction recovery program. In 1997 it was named the Brother Leo Men's Center in memory of Shepura.

In January 2007, the Men's Center relocated to the former Thomas School at 3420 2nd Avenue North, which was donated by the city. The dilapidated building, constructed in 1908, required $2 million to restore and modify for use by the center. The new facility will seat 120 in the dining room and provide 100 beds for men enrolled in the center's recovery program, as well as 35 beds for transients. The 3rd Avenue location seated 80 and had a total of 90 beds.

Later construction phases on the 3.5 acre site will add a dedicated chapel, administrative offices and classrooms, and an outdoor recreation yard with basketball court. These projects are expected to cost around $3 million.

The Center's 3rd Avenue location was sold for $500,000 to Ed and Leo Ticheli who plan to spend $5 million converting the building into loft condominiums and retail space.

Royal Pines Center

The Mission's Royal Pines Center in Bangor, Blount County, established in 1995, provides an intensive version of the 16-week addiction recovery program. Services are provided free of charge, with clients or their supporters providing donations as they are able. The facility has 28 beds and requires clients to participate in church services and work details in addition to classwork and counseling.

Jessie's Place

Jessie's Place is a women's and children's shelter located at 2305 5th Avenue North downtown. It was opened in March 1998 and is named after Jessie Hale Downs. The center accommodates 35 women and children, living dormitory-style. Individual families stay, on average, three to six months receiving remedial education, job training, counseling, and instruction in parenting and life skills in addition to food and shelter.

Stewart Learning Center

The Stewart Learning Center is a computer-based educational facility located at 2330 2nd Avenue North serving both the Men's Center and Jessie's Place. It was dedicated on November 15, 2001. A second satellite center is located inside the Royal Pines Center.

The Learning Center utilizes the NOVA career education program for individualized instruction. The course includes basic work skills and character development along with job searching techniques and problem assessment.

References

• Hayman, John (1998) Doing Unto the Least of These: The Story of Birmingham's Jimmie Hale Mission. Montgomery: Black Belt Press.
• Spencer, Thomas (January 14, 2007) "Address changes, mission doesn't." Birmingham News.

External links

• Jimmie Hale Mission website