No, the New Orleans Mission is a facility people can come to free of charge. We rely solely on the kindness of our donors to fund our services.

Most chronically homeless won’t use sound judgment when handling cash. It is best that you give to a local charity like the Mission instead of directly to the person. By doing this, you are guaranteeing that the money is going to be used for food and shelter, not for drugs or alcohol.

The Mission offers a clean, safe environment for its residents. Each night they get a meal, a shower, and a place to sleep. We also have a rehabilitation program that can aid a resident in getting clean and we also offer job placement services, a medical clinic and many other services to help the homeless.

It is estimated that 2.1 million Americans are on the streets every year. After a post-Katrina lull, many homeless have returned to the streets of New Orleans.

Poverty, lack of affordable housing, poor education, alcoholism, drug addictions and mental illness all play roles in why a person is homeless. Natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina have also eliminated much of the housing stock where the poor lived before the storm.

First, we give the homeless a roof over their heads, a bed, a hot meal and the opportunity to shower and take care of other needs. Through programs such as our Learning Center, we address educational issues. Our rehab programs help to free the homeless from the grip of drugs and alcohol. And finally, at the end of what is often a long road, our job placement services help return our residents to productive places in society.