THE HISTORY, MISSION, AND VISION OF M.I.S.S.
The Mission of the M.I.S.S., Inc. of the Treasure Coast is to provide housing and support services to single female heads of households who are Homeless, Extremely Low Income (ELI), Very Low-Income (VLI), or Low Income (LI). We are committed to alleviating the needs of disadvantaged families by empowering female heads of households to gain self-sufficiency. As a grassroots initiative in 1999, M.I.S.S. successfully secured funding to operate the First Official Homeless Transitional Living Facility in Martin County, FL, "Hope Park.” M.I.S.S. then provided housing and support services to 20 families yearly for over ten years. From 2007 to 2013, M.I.S.S. constructed Butterfly Gardens, Sammy's Landing and acquired Success House. In 2016, M.I.S.S. piloted a new housing program, Helen's Place, for single senior females. In 2018, M.I.S.S. dedicated housing. The M.I.S.S., Inc. of the Treasure Coast is a non-profit organization that provides housing and support services to single female heads of households who face homelessness or fall into the categories of Extremely Low Income (ELI), Very Low-Income (VLI), or Low Income (LI). The organization aims to empower these women to achieve self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life.
M.I.S.S., as a grassroots initiative, successfully secured funding to operate the first official homeless transitional living facility in Martin County, FL, "Hope Park." In the following years, M.I.S.S. expanded its services and provided housing and support services to 20 families yearly for over ten years. The organization constructed Butterfly Gardens, Sammy's Landing and acquired Success House from 2007 to 2013. In 2016, M.I.S.S. piloted a new housing program, Helen's Place, for single senior females. In 2018, M.I.S.S. dedicated housing units for single female heads of households experiencing poverty and mental illness.
Today, M.I.S.S. provides housing and support services to over 105 individuals annually, including single mothers, senior women, and women with mental health illnesses. All M.I.S.S. housing facilities represent a nondiscriminatory mosaic of generational homelessness. Our organization is proud to help transition homeless individuals from tents, cars, and streets into clean, safe, affordable housing.
The M.I.S.S. Housing Transition program, Moves the Bar, Maintains the Bar, Sustains the Bar and is comprised of three phases: the homeless intake assessment at the point of entry, followed by a transitional assessment of supportive services and, ultimately, the placement of individuals into permanent supportive housing to help them achieve self-sufficiency. M.I.S.S. firmly believes that permanent supportive housing is the only answer to the critical homeless needs of our community. We aim to keep homeless families safe and help them thrive by providing housing and support services that empower women to gain self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life.
Our strengths as women are celebrated here; our weaknesses are given support.
All residents of M.I.S.S. Inc.’s housing facility serve on the M.I.S.S. Advisory Council (MAC), which allows them to learn leadership skills and communicate directly with each other and the organization’s board. In addition, all participants are required to volunteer 4 hours per month to give back to the community. Opportunities abound for volunteering with our organization or by attending community meetings on behalf of the M.I.S.S. organization.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO?
The Treasure Coast of Florida is experiencing an increase in homelessness, particularly affecting single female heads of households who are unable to afford the fair market rent in Martin and St. Lucie counties. The high cost of living, coupled with limited income opportunities, is exacerbating the crisis. The lack of affordable housing stock continues to burden the renters and is a direct cause of the increase in homelessness on the Treasure Coast. As of 2023, Florida ranks 11th in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals and #1 in the highest share of cost-burdened renters in the United States. National reports confirm that homelessness among families with children and seniors living in poverty is increasing at an alarming rate, underlining the urgent need for more comprehensive solutions to address this complex issue.
Housing Options Promote Empowerment for All People and All Incomes. M.I.S.S. will continue to expand affordable housing options, that focus on creating nurturing communities that provide a stable foundation for women to prosper. By continuing to prioritize affordability and a supportive environment, our housing communities are the catalyst for personal growth and empowerment. The M.I.S.S. vision aligns with broader efforts to ensure everyone can access safe, affordable housing, a cornerstone of thriving communities.
M.I.S.S. GOAL
M.I.S.S. endeavors to expand its capacity to build more affordable housing throughout the Treasure Coast region, fostering a sense of community, hope, and a blueprint for the future. M.I.S.S. will continue to transition individuals from homelessness to housing and normalcy.
