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Ministry of Presence

St. Martin's Programs are committed to a "Ministry of Presence."  We believe that each person who comes through our doors must be treated with dignity and acceptance.  We must always meet people where they are -- not where we wish they were.  We believe that building close relationships with the people we serve is the ground for change and wholeness.  We believe that creating community and home for people is the best way for all of us to flourish and grow.  We believe that we are called into a life that protects the dignity of each person and provides for the basic needs of all.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tyrone

Former St. Martin's Programs participant Tyrone moved into permanent housing this spring thanks to support from St. Martin's Programs.  

Tyrone is a Chicago native who followed his brother out to the Northwest in 1982.  His brother was in the military and stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.  Tyrone returned to Chicago for about a year to care for his mother while she was ill.  Eventually, Tyrone settled in Seattle.  He worked in many areas such as roofing, construction, computer repair, and automotive services.  He has six children and two of his daughters live in the area.  Years passed and in 2019 Tyrone was in an unhealthy relationship and surrounded by negativity.  He found his way to the Lazarus Center; he immediately liked it because he was among peers, people his own age.  He had independence, but also help from staff who “had his back”.

“It was a beautiful and good thing.  I could talk to someone who would give me time.  [Staying at the Lazarus] prevented me from doing something stupid on the streets; harming my body; and putting myself in jeopardy of not being able to see my grandkids,” Tyrone explains.  During his stay at the Lazarus, Tyrone decided that he did not want to live with anyone else, so he could be free from arguments at home.  His search for housing began.  Due to the Lazarus’ main building closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyrone moved to our operations at the Holiday Inn.  After 10 months, he moved to Junction Point where he was assigned a Pallet unit or tiny home. “It’s a good, new, clean place to wait for housing,” Tyrone says.  At Junction Point, Tyrone was appointed a new case manager, Manuela Anderson. Her upbeat energy and proactive approach combined with Tyrone’s earnest desire and perseverance to find stable, independent housing yielded success.

Tyrone will be moving into his own apartment in downtown Seattle this spring.  In the future, Tyrone hopes that shoulder surgery will allow him to pursue automotive work again. For now, he plans to continue to “keep his nose clean”; help people fix their computer problems; stay positive; and play video games to de-stress. He especially looks forward to seeing his five grandchildren and one on the way. 

Who We Are
Please see our COVID-19 Update page to read about recent changes to our programs.

St. Martin’s Programs are three distinct programs serving older and disabled homeless individuals in downtown Seattle.  In 2019, St. Martin’s Programs provided over 97,000 shelter beds and over 200,000 meals; hosted 63,000 daytime visits; and helped 131 people move into permanent housing!

  • St. Martin de Porres Shelter
    A safe shelter for 52 men age 50 and older.  The Shelter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Services include hot meals, clothing, hygiene facilities, laundry room, housing case management, veterans’ support, medical care, and counseling referrals.

  • Lazarus Center
    A center for homeless men and women 50 years of age and older.  Lazarus Center is open 365 days a year.   On July 21, 2018, the Center moved into a newly renovated building and added night shelter to its services.  Each night, the main room converts into a men’s shelter and the activity room into a women’s shelter. The main room accommodates 40 men and the activity room shelters nine women, with flexibility on that ratio depending on need.  

    In the pre-COVID-19 era, Lazarus Center offered breakfast, lunch , and dinner service; hygiene and laundry facilities; clothing; a 6-station computer lab; telephone access; library; a mailing address; veterans’ support; group outings; and housing case management for a daily average of 200 people.  We are currently operating in Bob G's Shelter, formerly the Inn at Queen Anne, and serving 66 participants.

  • St. Martin's on Westlake
    Permanent, single-room-occupancy housing and support services for chronically homeless men 55 years of age and older.  The program serves 53 previously homeless men in downtown Seattle who, in addition to housing, receive meals, health care services, chemical dependency counseling, case management, and help with daily living.  The Westlake helps people successfully make the transition from homelessness into housing.
                  

What We Do

St. Martin’s Programs serve the special population of older homeless men and women who are vulnerable to the weather, young street predators, and illness. Our programs serve high needs households by having low barriers to entry.  We accept people who have special needs and no other place to go.

Our efforts are focused on providing basic survival and social services, as well as actively moving older homeless men and women into permanent homes.