The Pope Francis Center’s Fight Against Homelessness

The Pope Francis Center is a lifeline for Detroit’s homeless community, offering essential services six days a week. These include meals, hot showers, hygiene products, laundry facilities, medical care, haircuts, and housing assistance. These vital services are made possible through the dedication of volunteers and generous donations.

Each year, the center hosts the Building Bridges Gala, a meaningful and elegant event at Ford Field featuring a silent auction and paddle raise. The gala not only celebrates volunteers and sponsors but also raises crucial funds for future initiatives, including the Bridge Housing Campus—a program designed to combat chronic homelessness by providing temporary housing as a path to permanent stability.

Thanks to community and sponsor support, the Pope Francis Center held a ribbon cutting ceremony of the Bridge Housing Campus on June 3, 2024, just three miles outside downtown Detroit. The campus features 40 studio apartments where residents stay for 90 to 120 days while receiving intensive medical, psychological, addiction, social, and job-readiness support. Each resident follows a personalized treatment plan to help them overcome complex challenges and build a sustainable future.

Through its programs and the support of its community, the Pope Francis Center is creating real change—helping individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

A group of people stand posing for a photo with a lion mascot on an indoor football field.
A group of people stand on a football field posing for a selfie with their cell phone.
A group of five people stand on an escalator while people sit a tables in the foreground.
A neon sign is illuminated that says "Detroit Lions, The Detroit Lions, Inc" while people stand in the foreground.
An elevated view of over twenty tables with seats neatly set up with people standing around them.
A photo of a man wearing a clerical clothing points up and smiles.
A woman is partially illuminated while smiling and talking to another woman.
A woman wearing a blue dress laughs between two women.n
A close up of sparkly, silver boots standing on turf.
A close up of sparkly, pink shoes standing on a stage..
A woman in a blue dress kicks a football on an indoor football field as a group of people stand behind her.
A group of people in suits and gowns cheer on an indoor football field as a group of people stand behind her.
A woman stands while talking at a podium with a sign that reads "Pope Francis Center" is in the background.
A group of people talking to one another dress in suits and gowns at a gala event.
Two men hug in a crowd of people.
Catering servers stand in a crowd, holding champagne, bowing their heads in prayer.
Gala guests sit at a table, bowing their heads in prayer.
Two men hug while standing in a crowd of people.
An older man with gray hear and blue eyes smiles while seated at a table.
A woman smiles and holds hands with man during the Building Bridges Gala event.
A man stands in a crowd, illuminated by sunlight, while holding up a painting of the Spirit of Detroit.
Two catering servers open lids to stacked plates.
Two women sit at a table and smile while eating food.
A man smiles while standing at a podium with a sign that says "Pope Francis Center" is in the background.
A man holds a microphone and points while people hold signs up with numbers.
A woman partially illuminated by stage lighting holds up a paper with a number while sitting at a table.
A older woman, with white hair and glasses, sits at a table, holding her hands under her chin while looking off in the distance.
Two people stand in front of an example of a small bedroom room set up example.
A crowd of people watch a video of a construction project.
A red ribbon falls to the ground in pieces after being cut in front of a building that reads Pope Francis Center during a ceremony.
A bright green living space with a desk, chairs, lamp, coat rack, shelf, tv and bed.
Windows show a green pathway with trees surrounded by buildings on all sides.
A bright indoor space with multiple chairs, a couch and multi colored carpet.
A man closes his eyes while he hugs another man. Behind them is a sign that reads "Gene and Jeanne Lovasco and Family Main Lobby".