Skip to main content

First Light's 2024 Big Apple Gala will be held on April 25th at 6:00 PM. Click events for more information. 

Who We Are

Facility

Facility

First Light is a four-story building located on the corner of 4th Avenue North and 23rd Street in downtown Birmingham. The shelter is located in what used to be known as the city’s center of drug dealing, drug abuse, and prostitution- the Granada Hotel. When the first couple of floors of the hotel burned, community leaders launched a capital campaign. The generosity of Birmingham's downtown businesses, foundations, churches, and individual donors brought about the renovation of the Granada Hotel. It was redesigned especially for the needs of the homeless women and children in Birmingham, and reinvented to be a place of LIFE.

Facility

First Light's full- service kitchen

Facility

It is interesting to note that most spaces are multi-purpose. The day room is used as a sitting space and dining area. The program room where group therapies are conducted is also used for weekly Art Therapy classes. We have a fully-stocked commercial kitchen: volunteers either prepare meals at home to bring them in to serve or they come and prepare meals from scratch. There is a walk-in refrigerator, pantry, commercial-size freezer, convection oven, conventional oven, and pizza oven, with plenty of counter/workspace for food prep. First Light stocks all staple items while volunteers provide the meals served.

Facility

Because of our emphasis on helping our guests feel safe, a secured outside courtyard is provided in which the women can eat meals, visit with each other, or get some fresh air. 

FAQ

Facility

Why is the building so CLEAN?

The only thing asked of our guests is that they take personal responsibility for keeping their personal space and communal space neat and clean. They are expected to complete one chore every day, which usually takes less than 10 minutes. We believe that accountability and responsibility are important to the building of character. The kitchen and offices are kept clean and orderly thanks to the wonderful work of our Shelter Assistants. 

MENU CLOSE