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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.

St. Martin's Programs celebrate helping 138 homeless guests move into permanent housing in 2022!

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The global COVID-19 pandemic drove St. Martin’s Programs to reimagine and improve the way we provide housing for our homeless senior population.  We have let go of processes that have been in place for decades.  Giving people more space and private cubicles has enabled us to offer shelter in a safer and more dignified way. 

De-intensification of our Shelter has caused our enrollment numbers to drop, but St. Martin’s staff’s absolute dedication to our mission remains intact.  Even in the face of a global pandemic, we continue to work the front lines protecting the health and safety of the vulnerable folks we serve and actively work to transition people into stable, permanent housing.  Since 2012, the year we added case managers, we have helped 1,182 men move out of shelters!

Your generous donations allow our staff heroes to continue providing critical care and service to Seattle’s most vulnerable population.

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Who We Are

St. Martin’s Programs are three distinct programs serving older and disabled homeless individuals in downtown Seattle.  In 2022, St. Martin’s Programs provided over 62,000 shelter beds annually; served over 187,000 meals; and helped 138 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.  St. Martin's has also partnered with King County to open Junction Point Shelter which serves 50 senior adults in pallet/tiny homes.

  • Lazarus Center
    A center for homeless men and women 50 years of age and older.  Lazarus Center is open 365 days a year.  We are currently operating in Bob G's Shelter, formerly the Inn at Queen Anne, and serving 66 participants.  In the pre-COVID-19 era, Lazarus Center offered breakfast, lunch , and dinner service; night shelter; 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!