Monday marked the official opening of the Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus, a groundbreaking initiative employing an evidence-based approach to ending chronic homelessness across southeast Michigan. This $40 million facility, the first of its kind in Michigan, is specifically designed to aid individuals transitioning from homelessness. It’s a place where those who have been marginalized can find not just shelter, but a community that understands and addresses their unique needs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many services for the homeless were shut down across Southeast Michigan, the Pope Francis Center on Saint Antoine Street stood as a beacon of hope. It provided crucial support when it was needed most. It was during this time that Rev. Tim McCabe driven by a vision to end chronic homelessness, traveled across the country to gather best practices, bringing them back to Detroit to implement at the new center.
Photo: Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, president and CEO, Pope Francis Center
The Pope Francis Center, a nonprofit rooted in the outreach efforts of Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, has built a reputation not only for its care but for the trust it has earned within the community. “Trust has got to be the foundation, and we established that over 33 years at the church, so they know we love them,” McCabe emphasized. “We understand homelessness as a trauma and we will try to address that the best way we can.”
As the first group of residents arrives, they are greeted by a building designed to feel like home. With a goal to convey a sense of residence and stability. Each of the 40 studio apartments, currently designated for men, is connected by wide hallways painted in calming neutral blues and greens to alleviate feelings of confinement. The 336-square-foot units are thoughtfully designed with a bathroom, living area, bed, television, kitchenette, and bright windows. Importantly, three of the units are anti-ligature rooms, equipped with fixtures designed to ensure the safety of residents, such as sinks without knobs.
The campus includes covered sidewalks with heating lamps, an eight-bed respite center is available for individuals discharged from the hospital who still need time to recover. Additionally, a free medical clinic, gymnasium, commercial kitchen, and donation center for clothing and furniture are open to community members, making the campus a hub of support and resources.
Rev. Tim McCabe, who has devoted years to addressing homelessness, emphasized that the 60,000-square-foot campus is designed to help people transition from the streets into housing, situated on 5.3 acres of previously vacant land.
The Pope Francis Center focuses on individuals who are struggling within the traditional system, prioritizing those seen at its downtown location. Residents are expected to stay between 90 to 120 days before moving into stable housing, but there is flexibility for longer stays if needed. Housing specialists assist residents in identifying permanent homes and navigating challenges, ensuring ongoing support and a sense of community.
The campus is equipped with social workers, addiction specialists, and a psychiatrist to provide wraparound services. It also features classroom space for job preparation and financial literacy training, a barber shop, library, computer lab, art room, and meditation space, creating a holistic environment for personal growth and well-being.
Beyond the residential area, the campus serves the broader community. The CHASS Center operates a free health clinic with a doctor, nursing staff, and a dental wing accessible to anyone in the neighborhood. Community members can also use the classrooms, cafeteria, kitchen, and gym. A courtyard with overhead heating lamps accommodates about 13 people, offering a warm reprieve for those whose trauma prevents them from coming inside. This feature is crucial to prevent people from freezing during Detroit’s harsh winters.
According to a one-night tally by the Homeless Action Network of Detroit (HAND) in January 2022, there were 200 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. Although data for this year’s count is not yet available, the need for comprehensive solutions is evident.
The Bridge Housing Campus, located along West Hancock Street between Lawton Street and the Jeffries Service Drive, has been under construction since 2022 and in development for nine years. The project incorporates elements based on research and feedback from clients and service providers. The lobby features a “hot room” that heats up to 145 degrees to disinfect blankets and clothing, inspired by a shelter in California.
This innovative project is expected to spur a national conversation on the causes and solutions to homelessness, especially as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether cities can fine and arrest people for sleeping outdoors when no shelter beds are available.
Photo: Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II
Funding for the Bridge Housing Campus came primarily from the Julia Burke Foundation, along with contributions from Magna International, the Ford Motor Co., Lear Corp., the state of Michigan, and the city of Detroit. The new facility has increased the Pope Francis Center’s operating expenses from $3 million to $7 million, reflecting the scale of its mission.
Despite the new campus, the Pope Francis Center’s downtown location on Saint Antoine Street will continue to operate, providing essential services like meals, laundry, showers, medical, dental, and legal clinics, and housing assistance to up to 250 people daily. This dual approach ensures that the center’s legacy of compassion and support remains strong, reaching more individuals in need.
The Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus represents a monumental step forward in addressing homelessness in Detroit. It’s a place where people can find not only shelter but a pathway to stability, dignity, and a brighter future.
“It’s a real game-changer,” McCabe said of the campus, which not only benefits its residents but also their neighbors. The surrounding community, who consented to the project, will have full access to the campus’s health clinic, classrooms, cafeteria, and gymnasium. “I can’t wait for the kids in the neighborhood to see this and to come and throw a basketball around,” McCabe added, highlighting the importance of community interaction in breaking down stereotypes and fostering understanding.
“The community needs to see these people, not as scary,” McCabe said. “They should be viewed as people in crisis.” By integrating the homeless with the broader community, the Bridge Housing Campus aims to challenge and change the negative perceptions that add to the trauma experienced by the homeless.
The opening of the Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus is a powerful statement about what is possible when a community comes together with a shared vision of compassion and support. It’s a model that could spur national conversations around the causes and solutions to homelessness, demonstrating that with the right resources and commitment, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.
As we look to the future, the Bridge Housing Campus stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of community. It’s a place where the homeless can find not just shelter, but a path to stability and another chance at life. And for the city of Detroit, it’s a bold step forward in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time.
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