Pope Francis Center Serving Detroit's Homeless for Over 30 Years

In 1990, a winter blizzard forced homeless people to huddle against the walls of Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church on St. Antoine Street in Detroit. "The pastor saw them and he brought them indoors and put on a pot of coffee and literally, just as a way to protect people from the winter storm. That act of kindness launched the church into this ministry to the homeless that now spans 31 years," says Rev. Tim McCabe, Executive Director of the Pope Francis Center, the ministry organization that evolved from that first contact during a snowstorm.

The ministry initially began as a warming center for the homeless, serving coffee, donuts and donated leftover food from restaurants. McCabe says the organization grew thanks to generous donations from community partners such as UAW-Ford and the Bartush Family Foundation beginning in 2013, which enabled the ministry to expand and renovate part of the church building to add a commercial kitchen, showers, dining area, laundry facilities, and a day room. In 2015 the ministry was renamed the Pope Francis Center in honor of Pope Francis' concern for the poor.

The Pope Francis Center is not a shelter but a day center which provides essential services to the homeless population in Detroit. Currently operating out of the TCF Center downtown due to COVID-19, the ministry serves about 200 homeless individuals each day. The ministry operates Tuesday through Saturday only.

Once the church had a functioning kitchen, McCabe says they focused on implementing a nutrition program to address the poor dietary habits of the homeless population. The organization hired a chef to create nutrient-dense, balanced meals which McCabe says created an instant improvement in many of the guests they served who struggled with emotional swings and conditions like diabetes.

Guests at the Pope Francis Center are allowed access to showers and sinks for shaving and washing up. Personal toiletry items and clean socks and underwear are available for distribution and barber services are available as well. Laundry service enables guests to launder their clothing and bedding.

Also available to Pope Francis Center guests are medical, dental, and podiatry clinics, courtesy of Covenant Community Care, University of Detroit Mercy Nursing School, Beaumont Health, and Street Medicine Detroit.

Many homeless people use bicycles as the sole form of transportation, so a bicycle repair clinic seemed to be an obvious addition. The organization partners with volunteers from Holy Spokes to keep guests' bikes in working order. A legal clinic provides guests access to legal assistance thanks to volunteers from local law firms. Guests are able to address family law issues, disability claims, or legal issues such as loitering or vagrancy.

A native Michigander, McCabe arrived at Pope Francis Center in 2015. "What I loved is this idea of serving dignity on a daily basis, that we care for the whole person, that we see their inherent worth and dignity as human beings, as children of God and we treat them that way, and they respond to that. "While the services were necessary and appreciated, McCabe says they were merely a bandage and did not address the root problem of chronic homelessness: trauma. Whether the trauma stemmed from an abusive childhood, domestic abuse, or violent lifestyle, McCabe initiated wrap-around support services to address the struggle.

McCabe's vision is to end chronic homelessness in Detroit by 2030. The Pope Francis Center is on course to build a 40-unit Bridge Housing Facility in Detroit, providing guests with up to 120 days of shelter along with services which will include psychological support, substance abuse support, and job-readiness services. The facility will prepare individuals for a successful transition into permanent supportive housing. The project already has $8 million committed to its development from names like Ford Motor Company, Pulte Family Foundation, and the Pistons Group. "So we've got the right people in place who have looked at what we're doing...and understand it as a real solution to a real problem," says McCabe. "I'm convinced that we have the right approach that will help end chronic homelessness."

To find out more about the Pope Francis Center and how you can volunteer or donate, go to http://www.popefranciscenter.org.