Miami Launches The First Mobile Shower Program to Aid the Homeless

    MIAMI, FL, September 29, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On October 1st the first mobile shower program will be launched in Miami to aid the homeless. This launch event is scheduled at First United Methodist Church parking lot at 400 Biscayne Blvd, Downtown, Miami, at 6.30pm. The new mobile showers will be open to the homeless to use, before they have their daily meal at FUMC as part of their ongoing homeless mission. At 7.30am at the same location, on the same morning, they will also be unveiling a sculpture of the homeless Jesus, which will be dedicated to Dr James Hutson, who started the homeless mission many years ago in the early 50's. They are not only unveiling a sculpture but a wonderful story of how one man's generosity and vision lead to decades of growth of the homeless mission of Downtown Miami.

It is not often you hear such a wonderful story, that it can change the way you look at the simple deeds of people and how they can change the world, but this is definitely one of those times. The homeless mission was started by Dr James Hutson, who is the grandson of Dr James Jackson, the first doctor in Miami and who started Miami's first hospital called Miami General, which eventually was named after him, simply called 'Jackson Memorial Hospital'.

Dr James Hutson, a dedicated member of FUMC (First United Methodist Church) Downtown, is currently their oldest member of the church and has been a force for change in the Miami community all his life. Not only is Dr. Hutson the eldest member of the church but also the eldest member of the Miami Dade County Rotary. Dr. Hutson developed polio at a young age and has struggled with it his whole life. Dr. Hutson used his difficult circumstance as a springboard to achieving his life goals of becoming a doctor and helping those in need. In the mid 1950's Dr. Hutson rented a small downtown storefront and ran a clinic for the homeless. This sm The FUMC church got behind the initiative and the Homeless Mission of Downtown was started. They now feed nearly 200 men and women in the Downtown area, give supplies in an effort called 'Undie Sunday' and even have a homeless foot washing each year, where doctors and volunteers gather to look after each persons feet and make sure they get medical attention and have a wash and pedicure.

Pastor Audrey Warren, the driving force of the church redevelopment and homeless mission, comments "Having access to regular hygiene is a fundamental part of good health and well-being. But its also part of personal dignity - it can create a turning point in someone's life". "While many other organizations are able to focus on rehousing families we do not have the capacity. Our mission is to work with the chronically and continuously homeless homeless in Miami." Dr Warren adds "Our hope with the mobile showers is to give people the opportunity to start their day in a new direction and we are hoping to expand our mission beyond the Downtown area and go to were we are needed. Our hope in the future is also expand to mobile health care clinics, mental healthcare assistance, food trucks and more. We are excited to launch the mobile showers and have to thank our partners, Live Fresh Inc and all those who helped make this possible".
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As the downtown landscape of Miami changes so too has the communities and missions in it. In a recent effort to grow and expand the church, FUMC is under contract sell their property to Property Markets Group and the church is due to be redeveloped into a new and exciting structure at 400 Biscayne Blvd. As the church and the community gracefully grows together, there has been a major focus on this homeless mission. Statistics have proved that many homeless are migrating West, away from the newly renovated downtown landscape and so the Homeless Mission is growing to be more mobile so they can look after more people and in more areas. The first homeless shower unit in Miami will be launched on October 1st at 6.30am at FUMC at 400 Biscayne Blvd, Miami. This will shower all our homeless brothers and sisters, before they have their daily meal. Free haircuts are also available there on a regular basis.

On the same day on October 1st at 7.30am they will install a Homeless Jesus Sculpture at 400 Biscayne Blvd and it will be dedicated to Dr James Hutson. This will remain the home of this sculpture even after all the redevelopment. This sculpture is a very special one and is the work of artist Timothy Schmaltz. The figure is of Christ shrouded in a blanket and the only indication that is it Christ is the visible wounds on his feet. The life size sculpture has enough room that someone is able to sit on the bench. Only ONE Homeless Jesus Sculpture is installed in each major city around the world. Pope Francis, in agreement with this message, bless the original model in 2013 and the Vatican was given the model to keep in their archives.

From the small beginning of Dr Hutson's burger distribution, he went on to opened the first free homeless clinic in Downtown. Dr Hutson is since retired and is still a valued member of the church. Tears come to his eyes when he sees the growth of what the homeless mission has become. Dr Hutson will be in attendance on October 1st as they unveil the sculpture and dedicate it to him.

NOTES:
Firstly, we would like to welcome you to attend the event on October 1st at 400 Biscayne Blvd, Downtown, Miami. The Homeless Showers will be launched at 6.30am, followed by the unveiling of the homeless sculpture at 7.30am.
Please email [email protected] to let them know you will be attending and if you need any further information.

For interview opportunities please contact Pastor Audrey Warren.
Dr. Audrey Warren, 305.962.4896 [email protected]
Dr. Audrey Warren Bio is also attached in PDF format.

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