“This is an answer to my prayer, the Pope Francis Center, because it seemed like everybody was leaving the men behind. They didn’t have a facility for men to go. This is an honor and a blessing.” – Ms. Lillie Skinner, Core City Neighborhood Association

“What this Center, this Campus, what Pope Francis represents, is one of the most important anchor institutions working to open the door to something all of us in Michigan have in common as a desire. And that is access to a dream, an opportunity. To have a pathway to health. To have a pathway to wealth. To have a pathway to stability. To have a pathway to opportunity.” – Garlin Gilchrist II, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan

Thank you to everyone who attended our Bridge Housing Campus Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Monday, June 3, 2024. We deeply appreciate this community and everyone’s ongoing support of our mission to end chronic homelessness in Detroit. View the full ceremony program here.

Bridge Housing Campus (BHC) is a holistic response to the complex and interconnected barriers to housing, based on years of research and best models for alleviating homelessness, finding that trauma-informed, intensive wrap-around care is what is needed to help people become and stay housed.

BHC is a 60,000 sq ft campus located 3 miles outside of downtown Detroit on a 5-acre plot of land in the Core City neighborhood. Campus includes 40 studio apartments where residents will stay for 90 – 120 days with access to intensive medical, respite, psychological, addiction, social, and job-readiness services, as well as housing advocacy and support. BHC is not an emergency shelter nor is it permanent housing. This is an intensive program where each resident will have an individualized treatment plan created to support and empower them to have the tools they need to overcome the many complex challenges they face. We will continue to provide essential housing advocacy to help residents navigate the complicated and disjointed housing resources available to create stability in their lives. Our goal is to support and empower our residents to become and stay housed upon leaving BHC, while creating a trusting long-term relationship to support them as they live independently.

Admissions criteria will take into consideration pre-existing medical history, mental health, physical vulnerability, previous episodes of homelessness, and corrections history, as well as insight we have gained from building strong and personal relationships with our guests at the Center.

BHC is not yet open to the public. Please check back here frequently for updates on opening, admissions, services, and more. To read more about BHC and our Ribbon Cutting Celebration on June 3, please click here.

If you are in need of shelter or housing, please contact CAM Detroit at (313) 305-0311.

For meals, showers, laundry, please visit PFC downtown located at 438 Saint Antoine St. We will continue to serve guests downtown Monday – Saturday from 7am-11am.

To make a donation, please click here or contact Carmen Szurpicki, Director of Philanthropy, at (313) 964-2823 ext. 210 or carmen@pfc.org.

To learn more about volunteering, please contact Adrienne Polumbo, Associate Director of Community Engagement at (313) 964-2823 ext. 224 or adrienne@pfc.org.

For more information on the ULI Technical Assistance Program Scope, please click here. Contact: Ariana Herrera-Wilder, Chief of Staff at (313) 964-2823 ext. 214 or ariana@pfc.org.

Bridge Housing Campus (BHC) – Frequently Asked Questions

• When will BHC open its doors to residents?
  • We are scheduled to welcome our first group of residents in Summer 2024.
• Is BHC a shelter or permanent housing?
  • BHC is not an emergency shelter nor is it permanent housing. BHC is an intensive transitional residential program for individuals experiencing homelessness. This is a program that will work to support and empower residents to have the tools they need to overcome the many challenges they face. We will work with residents to not only help them through their trauma, addiction and other challenges, but will work to help them find and stay housed after they leave BHC.
• I am homeless and interested in living at BHC. How can I get admitted? 
  • Admissions criteria will take into consideration pre-existing medical history, mental health, physical vulnerability, previous episodes of homelessness, and corrections history. This unique prioritization method serves as an equitable assessment tool to address the symptoms, causes, and conditions that may have allowed some of our most vulnerable neighbors in Detroit to slip between the cracks of the housing and homeless support system. While our assessment tool does rely heavily on pre-existing data, the insights we have gained from the close personal relationships we maintain with our guests at the downtown Pope Francis Center will be a factor, as well. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a resident at BHC, please visit the downtown Pope Francis Center at 438 Saint Antoine St and talk with a team member to learn more about admission.
• How long will residents live at BHC?
  • The majority of residents will live at BHC for 90 – 120 days. Each resident will have an individualized care plan and the duration of residence will depend on their needs. Some will stay shorter and some will stay longer than 90 – 120 days.
• How many people will live at BHC?
  • We have 40 studio apartments and can house up to 40 people at a time.   
• Will you help residents find housing for after they leave BHC?
  • Yes, we will continue to provide essential housing support and advocacy to help residents navigate the complicated and disjointed housing resources available to help create stability in their lives through housing. Our housing advocates coordinate with other agencies, providing essential communication to caseworkers and navigators and remove the multitude of barriers that our residents face to become housed and have access to the essential services that they need. Our goal is to support and empower residents to become and stay housed upon leaving BHC, while creating a trusting long-term relationship to support them as they live independently.
• Where is BHC located?
  • BHC is located three miles outside of downtown Detroit in the Core City neighborhood. We are located at 2915 W Hancock St near Warren and I-96. 
• Will the Pope Francis Center remain open downtown at 438 Saint Antoine St?
  • Yes, we will continue to provide services at the downtown Pope Francis Center. We are open Monday through Saturday from 7am-11am. 
• Are women, children, and families able to stay at BHC?
  • At this time, we are only admitting single men to live at BHC. There may be opportunities for women, children and families in the future, but we will begin admissions with single men only.
• What services will be offered at BHC?
  • We will provide individuals with personalized, well-coordinated care to prepare them for a successful transition into permanent housing. Services include trauma-informed intensive medical, psychological, addiction, social, respite, and job-readiness services, as well as housing advocacy and support.
• When will the medical and dental clinics open to the community?
  • We are scheduled to open the doors to our medical and dental clinics in Summer 2024.
• Who can utilize the medical and dental clinic located at BHC?
  • The medical and dental clinics will be open to the community and available to anyone who is in need of medical and dental care. These clinics will be run by CHASS (Community Health and Social Services). We will welcome walk-ins as well as pre-scheduled appointments for basic health screenings and other basic health care services.