"They had this big sign. It's up there on the bus stop: 'Now hiring bus drivers.' So I went in there and did their training and they paid to train and I got a Class B CDL (commercial driver's license), " said Martin Wilburn.

Wilburn's story is a Victory Mission success story. After being homeless for years, he's lived at the Mission for the past two years. He's getting his life back together and learning how to contribute to society.

"They asked me to be a bus attendant so that's what I'm doing and I just feel like I've been blessed with it," he said.

Many of the men around Wilburn are still looking for work, however, and it's proving to be elusive in this economy.

"It was about November when we started seeing men down at our Victory Lodge coming in and saying, 'I've lost my job; there isn't anything else to do,'" said Mission director Jim Harriger.

In the first three months of this year, the numbers of those needing food assistance are soaring. Last year at this time, 3,226 people went to the mission for help. This year, that number has jumped to 3,781.

The Mission is doing what it can to save. It's cut six employees through attrition and is finding other ways to cut back.

"Another cup of water in the soup allows you to feed two more people but it didn't cost you anything," said Harriger.

Martin hopes his new job will lead him out of the Mission to make room for others who need the help. He's hopeful for his roommates.

"There are more jobs out there than people are willing to admit. The secret is you have to be willing to adapt and be flexible," he said.