Gallery: Men’s Home Construction
The Mission’s new Men’s Home is taking shape at 3300 W. Colonial Drive. The latest milestone was the installation of the cross in front. The cross is a replica of the iconic and historic red cross that has sat atop the old Men’s Home, located on West Central Boulevard, for more than 50 years. On […]
A Family’s Hope For The Holidays
Djerry and Patricia had high hopes when they moved to Orlando from Atlanta during the fall of 2016. They had secured jobs, put down a deposit on an apartment, and were ready to start a new life with their three sons. But their dream became a nightmare when they arrived to find they were victims […]
Gallery: 2017 Thanksgiving Banquet
An estimated 1,000 hungry men, women, and children were served a delicious Thanksgiving meal of turkey and all the trimmings by volunteers at the final Great Thanksgiving Banquet hosted by the Orlando Union Rescue Mission at the old Men’s Home in downtown Orlando. Guests also received coats and other clothing, as well as hygiene items […]
The Best Year of Yuneisha’s Life
In one short year, Yuneisha went from being unemployed and sleeping in her car to having a good-paying job and her own apartment. During that year, she also became a certified pharmacy technician and paid off more than three thousand dollars to become debt free. “This has been the best year of my life,” the […]
I Finally Have Hope: Jason’s Story
Jason never considered himself an addict. After all, every drug he took was prescribed by physicians to treat the severe depression that plagued him since childhood. “I never used illegal drugs – cocaine, meth, heroin or anything like that,” he says. “I figured it was OK if the doctor prescribed it, and my life was […]
Video: Welcome Home
Nia’s story
Nia is just one of more than 60 children staying with their families at Orlando Union Rescue Mission’s Family Home. In fact, a third of our guests are boys and girls under 18 who became homeless through no fault of their own. And as their parents work hard to rebuild their lives, these kids face […]
Congratulations to our graduates
Fifteen current and former Mission guests were recognized in a special graduation ceremony for earning their high school diplomas through the NOVA educational program in the Career Learning Center. The NOVA program addresses the unique educational challenges of the homeless. Students receive an education customized to meet their individual needs; it provides the confidence, life […]
Out of the woods: James’ story
James was used to passing out drunk, but he usually woke up in the woods. This time, he was in a hospital. “They told me my (blood-alcohol) level was 0.6. That’s enough to kill you,” he says. “I should have been dead, but the Lord let me wake up. And I’m so glad He did.” […]
Tim’s story
Tim barely recognizes the disheveled version of himself in the gallery of police mugshots taken between 1993 and 2014. “That feels like a lifetime ago,” he says. “I’m a totally different person now, thanks to the Lord and the Orlando Union Rescue Mission.” Tim had spent more than half his adult life incarcerated, mostly for […]