By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As homelessness continues to rise across the metro area, one of Birmingham’s oldest ministries is taking bold action. The Jimmie Hale Mission plans to build a $4.4 million emergency shelter that will provide both refuge and resources for those in need.
“We hope to break ground next year in 2026,” said Perryn Carroll, executive director of the Jimmie Hale Mission.
The new 98-bed facility, planned for 3401 Second Avenue North, will sit across from the mission’s men’s rehabilitation center near Sloss Furnaces. The project includes family rooms, showers, laundry facilities, dining space, and consultation rooms for mental health counseling and social services.
The city of Birmingham has pledged $1 million over four years toward construction, while the mission launches a fundraising campaign to secure the remaining funds.
Carroll said recent ordinances passed in neighboring cities, such as Homewood’s ban on public encampments, could push more unhoused individuals toward Birmingham. “When you make it illegal to be homeless in one city, people migrate to the next,” she said. “Criminalizing homelessness doesn’t solve anything — it just moves the problem.”
Founded in 1944, the Jimmie Hale Mission has long served as a cornerstone of compassion, from warm meals and recovery programs to emergency shelters during freezing nights.
With construction expected to begin as soon as funding is secured, Carroll said the mission’s goal is clear: “We’re here to offer safety, dignity, and a path forward — because everyone deserves a place to call home.”