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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.

 

Alton

Former St. Martin de Porres Shelter resident Alton Fields has been in permanent housing for two and a half years thanks to support from St. Martin's Programs.  Alton grew up in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle; playing Little League Baseball; and drinking alcohol that was hidden in the house when he was young.  Later, he experimented with other drugs and became a functioning alcoholic and addict for many years.  Alton worked as a welder in the shipyards, married, and started a family.  Eventually the drugs took over his life and he lost everything.  

A Lazarus Center staff person saw Alton daily hanging out in front of convenience store and invited Alton to the Center.  “For some reason, I listened to him and decided to go...I began to spend my days at the Lazarus and my nights at St. Martin’s.  The staff really took me under their wing, they loved me when I didn’t love myself.  I felt good again and began to trust them,” Alton explains.  He began volunteering and working with St. Martin’s housing case managers.  After moving into his own apartment, Alton had a relapse and was in danger of losing his housing.  St. Martin’s case managers guided him back on track.

Alton has been sober for two years; is involved in his church again; goes to daily AA meetings; sees his kids; and has a relationship with his five-year-old granddaughter.  “I honestly believe I’d be dead if it wasn’t for the Lord and the staff of St. Martin’s.  They never gave up on me and showed me real love.”

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 night shelter for 212 men age 50 and older.  The shelter is open 365 nights a year from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Services include hot meals, clothing, hygiene facilities, laundry room, housing case management, veterans’ support, AA meetings, 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.

    Lazarus Center offers 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.

  • 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.




THANK YOU to our sponsors!

  • The Commerce Bank of Washington
  • St. Martin's Programs, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington