15 Nights of Warmth, Safety and Shelter

Published On: February 4, 2026|Categories: In The News, PFC News|

A special thank you from Fr. Tim McCabe

For 15 consecutive days, the Pope Francis Center’s Bridge Housing Campus stood as a lifeline during some of the most dangerous cold of the season.

From January 19 to February 3, our Emergency Shelter kept its doors open in response to extreme cold temperatures across Southeast Michigan. Thanks to an extraordinary outpouring of support, we were able to provide warmth, safety and dignity to our neighbors experiencing homelessness during these severe conditions.

Most nights, the shelter operated at or near full capacity — serving up to 80 people each night. Behind every warm bed, hot shower and safe place to rest was a community that showed up without hesitation.

Partners Who Made This Possible

Our shelter response would not have been possible without our partners who generously gave their time and services to ensure the shelter could open quickly and operate safely.

We extend our deepest thanks to MedStar and Ford Land, whose support was essential to the setup and daily operations. We are also deeply grateful to the City of Detroit for its leadership, coordination and support throughout this extreme weather, helping ensure standby shelters across the city could respond when the need was greatest.

We are also incredibly grateful to Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, whose partnership helped ensure consistent food support not only throughout the shelter’s operation but also our food pantry services.

The Power of Generosity

The compassion of our supporters was felt in every detail, from the warmth of a blanket to the comfort of clean socks and hygiene essentials. We are deeply thankful for the following donations that directly supported our guests:

Patty Saenz (St. Cyprian Church) — 100 blankets
Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan — over 200 blankets
Joe Warpup (Knights of Columbus) — 92 blankets
Repair the World — 1,624 hygiene products
Fr. Hendry (Alpha Sigma Nu – University of Detroit Mercy) — 762 pairs of socks
Janet & Phil Caputo — the purchase of an additional Cambro beverage dispenser, helping us serve guests more efficiently during the Emergency Shelter

Each of these contributions carried the same message to our guests: you are seen and you are not alone.

Thank You to Those On the Ground Every Day

We also want to recognize the tireless efforts of our Pope Francis Center staff and our ongoing operational partners, including Liberty Security and Continuum Services, whose teams supported the building day after day. Their consistency and professionalism ensured that the shelter remained safe, welcoming, and dignified throughout its 15-day run.

And to our 146 volunteers — thank you. Your generosity of time and presence made an immeasurable difference, with 438 total volunteer hours powering care and support for our guests.

More Than Shelter

Our emergency shelter is about more than protection from the cold. It’s about restoring a sense of humanity during moments of crisis. Because of you, hundreds of moments of warmth, rest, and reassurance were made possible during a time when the cold could have been deadly.

This response was a powerful reminder of what can happen when our community comes together with compassion and urgency.

From all of us at the Pope Francis Center — thank you.