Panama City

Panama City, Florida sits along the Gulf Coast in Bay County, a place shaped by beach tourism, military presence from Tyndall Air Force Base, and a slow, ongoing recovery from Hurricane Michael's damage in 2018. The average household income here runs around $58,000 a year, but that number hides a lot of strain for people living paycheck to paycheck or with nothing at all. Bay County's point-in-time count identified 312 homeless individuals in January 2023, a figure advocates say likely undercounts the real number sleeping in cars, tents, and outdoor camps. The Salvation Army of Bay County runs a shelter and provides meals and case management for people trying to get back on their feet. Waterfront Rescue Mission also operates in the area, offering emergency shelter and recovery programs for men, women, and families. Manna of Panama City works to fight hunger by distributing food to those who need it most, no questions asked. If you're reading this while trying to figure out your next meal or your next safe place to sleep, know that you're not invisible here — people in this town are working to help you make it through, one day at a time.