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Home Shelters and Homeless ServicesSt. Martin de Porres Shelter
St. Martin de Porres Shelter provides safe and dignified night shelter for homeless men age 50 and older. The shelter opened in October 1984 in response to the growing need for an emergency shelter for this special population of elderly men who are vulnerable to the weather, street predators, and illness.
We currently operate at our full capacity of 212 men a night. The shelter is open 365 nights a year from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. and during the day for medical convalescent care. During the winter months, we have arrangements with eight local churches to provide space for an additional 34 men a night.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide a hospitable, safe, and orderly shelter for men 50 years of age and older who are homeless. This is to be done in the spirit of ministry of presence, which fosters attention to the individual and respect for each person’s unique situation.
Our Ministry of Presence
"Do not depend on the hope of results…In the end, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything." ~ Thomas Merton
Our ministry of presence is rooted in the Gospel Values and entwined with our idea of friendship and community. We believe our ministry is to live out an unconditional affirmation and passionate pursuit of the best in every person.
We have faith that the good is there and that we can discover it together through our solidarity with one another in all the pain and joy of life.
We recognize our shortcomings and we ask forgiveness when we fail to sustain our vision of home for one another.
To the best of our knowledge, St. Martin’s is the only night shelter that offers and targets such a multitude of services to the elderly homeless community year-round. We provide:
- Night Shelter
- Hot Meals
- Clothing
- Day Respite: 24-hour care for the ill or injured; includes transportation to and from medical appointments
- Medical Care: a nurse is provided by Health Care for the homeless,
five days a week, without cost to St. Martin's
- Restroom and Shower Facilities
- Laundry Room
- Library
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Chapel
Housing and Employment Assistance: our resource coordinator offers residents guidance in the housing/job application process and counsels them in dealing with Social Security, the VA, and other governmental agencies
Drug and Alcohol Counseling
Counseling from VA outreach worker
AA Meetings (optional)
Memorial Services: St. Martin’s hosts memorial services for men who have stayed at the Shelter
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Your time and skills help keep our expenses low so we can focus our financial resources on providing safe, nighttime shelter for elderly homeless individuals. St. Martin’s offers a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the day:
To volunteer or get more information on these activities, please call (206) 323-6341.
Your tax deductible financial donations enable us to provide a safe, warm place for a homeless man to sleep, shower, wash his clothes, and eat a nutritious meal. A gift of $25.00 will allow a man to stay at St. Martin’s for 2 nights; $100.00 for 8 nights.
For other questions regarding direct contributions, please contact Angela Chinn Peterson.
In-Kind Donations
Your donation of food helps feed 212+ homeless men a night. Commonly needed items include: large canned goods such as tuna, chili, stew, and pork and beans; wrapped 2-ct. soda crackers (e.g., 500 ct. boxes); condiments; eggs; cereal; milk; tea; and coffee.
Our residents also appreciate clothing and toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, disposable razors, shaving cream, shampoo and lotion.
If you would like to know about other useful items or our most urgent needs, please call Marge Barrett, In-Kind Gifts and Food Coordinator, at 206-287-1677.
 Start saving today! Join in a fundraiser that benefits St. Martin de Porres Shelter and supporters at the same time! We are currently offering 2013 Entertainment® books. You can pick up the 2013 Seattle Edition at the Shelter or buy it online for $30.00 each.
With an Entertainment® book, you’ll get up to 50% off and 2-for-1 discounts on dining, movies, theatre and special events, shopping, services, travel . . . virtually everything! Plus, 45% of the price of each book purchased will be donated to the Shelter. Starting at 45 books sold, St. Martin’s will earn 50% profit.
North Puget Sound, South Puget Sound, and Spokane editions are also only $30.00 per book. All Washington State and out-of-town editions are available over the Internet right here: View/Buy Book Now!
Please contact Angela Chinn Peterson for more information.
St. Martin de Porres Shelter
1561 Alaskan Way South
Seattle, WA 98134
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