In 1990, the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church opened the doors to those seeking refuge from a brutal winter storm. He put on a pot of coffee, set out some folding chairs and offered people a place to get warm. This single act of kindness inspired the parish’s longstanding commitment to serving its neighbors, launching a ministry that has lasted nearly three decades.

Thanks to a generous donation from the UAW-Ford, the Pope Francis Center underwent extensive renovations in 2013. It is now equipped with a state-of- the-art kitchen and laundry facilities as well as updated showers, restrooms and shaving stations. The center also offers guests a series of free clinics including legal, medical, dental and podiatry services.

To honor Pope Francis’ deep commitment to the poor, the Warming Center was renamed the Pope Francis Center in November 2015.

Today, the Center continues to grow and expand its services. The number of guests we assist each day has increased, and so has the scope of services and tools we provide to help reverse a person’s homeless status.