POVERELLO CENTER INC

Mission
The Poverello Center provides food, shelter, help, and hope to all who ask.
Vision
We believe all people deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of their housing status. We envision a collaborative and supportive community in which everyone has a safe place to call home.
From the Articles of Incorporation
It is the philosophy of the Poverello Center that its services be rendered in as personal a way as possible; that respect for the individual human person and his dignity be of primary concern; that every person is considered to be worthy and valuable as a human regardless of his race, religious beliefs, social status, physical appearance or any handicap and in spite of any misconduct or antisocial behavior. Consequently, every person should be met with concern, a presumption of trustworthiness, and a respectful attitude by the staff. The policies and actions of the administration and volunteers should be governed by an attitude that we believe is Christ-like, even though not every member of this organization who has this attitude would necessarily so label it.

Services
Emergency Shelter
The Poverello Center on Broadway provides 135 sleeping spaces, and the Johnson Street shelter provides 165 sleeping spaces. Shelter is a core
Food Programs
The Poverello Center serves three nutritious meals per day to anyone in need, including families. Our sack lunch program ensures people have food while on the job. Our Food Pantry provides shelf-stable and fresh foods on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:30pm – 7pm
Support Services
The Poverello Center provides necessary services for support. These include showers, toiletries, laundry, phones, relationships with knowledgeable staff, and community.
Medical Respite
Medical respite beds are available by referral only for people who need additional privacy and time to recuperate from a medical crisis. Most referrals come from St. Pat’s Hospital and are related to surgical recovery.
Since the program began in 2016, it is estimated that the program has saved more than $2 million in medical costs such as emergency room visits. The Medical Respite program serves as a place for people experiencing houselessness to recover after being released from the hospital. This allows for individuals to heal safely and effectively.
Homeless Outreach
The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) builds relationships with chronically houseless individuals living on the streets, provides food, gear, support, and connection to other community resources for unhoused individuals. The program provides a HOT-line (493-7955) as an alternative to costly 9-1-1 calls for concerns pertaining to the safety or behavior of unhoused neighbors.
Veteran Housing
Our Veterans transitional housing programs provide up to 2 years of housing and full support to eligible Veterans living in houselessness. These programs offer the 1:1 support Veterans need to meet their goals and live healthier, more sustainable lives.

Impact
Where systems struggle to keep up with demand, the Poverello Center steps in. Combined, the Poverello Center on Broadway and the Johnson Street Emergency Shelter provide 300 beds per night to those who need a place to sleep. We provide additional shelter and resources 24/7, such as hot and cold meals, access to showers and toiletries, and supportive, knowledgeable staff. This work keeps people out of the elements during harsh Montana seasons, and allows for a sense of stability as our guests move towards permanent housing solutions. These resources are not given in vain; in 2022, 126 of our guests moved from shelter into temporary or permanent housing. In 2023, we worked with Homeword, Missoula Housing Authority, and Partnership Health Clinic to open Blue Heron Place, a permanent supportive housing complex, which dozens of our former guests have moved into. As demand and need for our services increases, we remain dedicated to providing food, shelter, help, and hope to all who ask.

Advocacy
The Poverello Center understands that although our work is a crucial stopgap for our community, systemic change is crucial to further our mission and eliminate homelessness. Our Executive Director, Jill Bonny, has been instrumental in the creation of the Montana Coalition to Solve Homelessness (MCSH), which meets regularly to discuss strategies and solutions. The Coalition was an advocate for House Bill 5, which allocated $5 million to emergency shelters across the state. This money will not only go towards serving our populations more effectively, but will continue the conversation surrounding homelessness in state government.