Contact:
Kim Thompson
504/415.9579
kim@neworleansmission.org

February 25, 2008

New Orleans Mission to host first post-Katrina graduation

NEW ORLEANS -- George Scott came to New Orleans to repair damaged homes, but his two-year journey in the city led him to construct a different dream. After moving to the city, Scott weathered personal storms and became homeless. He’s spent the last 12 months rebuilding his life through the New Orleans Mission’s discipleship program, and his March 6 graduation ceremony marks both a personal victory and a victory for the Mission.

Scott will be the first graduate of the Mission’s 12-month discipleship program since the storm. While rebuilding his life through the program, which helps men overcome substance abuse and addiction, he used his carpentry skills to repair the storm-damaged men’s shelter.

He also developed plans to help other men overcome addiction and re-enter society successfully.

Several years ago, Scott worked in a three-quarter house in North Carolina, and he hopes to open a similar private home in New Orleans upon graduation.

“I saw that there was nothing in place after leaving long-term, committed environments,” Scott said. “Agencies here don’t have a secondary facility that gives individuals the ability to have some self-direction.”

A three-quarter house is the solution, Scott said, because it allows more independence than halfway houses or programs like the Mission’s, which offers daily Bible-based counseling, GED preparatory classes and work therapy. In his three-quarter house, the clients would be viewed as brothers and could slowly repair credit, deal with family issues and upgrade job skills before returning to the public as productive citizens.

The graduation ceremony is open to the public and will be held March 6 at 6 p.m. in the chapel of the men’s shelter at 1130 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

About the New Orleans Mission
The New Orleans Mission was established in 1989 as a 501(c)3 corporation to provide spiritual and physical support for the poor and homeless of New Orleans. Governed by a board of directors and managed by an executive director, the mission is the largest private service provider for the homeless in Central City. All services, which are provided for free, include overnight, emergency shelter, transitional housing, meals, clothing, showers and a one-year recovery program. The mission also hosts a free health clinic for women in collaboration with volunteer medical students from Louisiana State University and offers education and employment services for adults.