Ministries of Mercy - Shelter at 1213 16th Street North, Saint Petersburg, FL 33710 US - Home
Welcome to the Shelter Ministry Website
Shelter Ministries provide shelter to the homeless and people in challenging situations. They include any ministries that work with housing for any special population and utility shut-off, eviction and foreclosure notices.
Affordable Housing for the Elderly
Alida De Jesus, housing manager for San Lorenzo Terrace II in Tampa, says more than 100 people stood in line the day registration opened. San Lorenzo Terrace II is a non-denominational rental community with 68 units designed to provide housing for individuals over the age of 62 with rent being no more than 30 percent of their adjusted gross income. “Because of the high demand in elderly housing, some individuals waited since the night before to get an application and others drove in from out of town,” Alida explains. Read more ...
In 2006, Bishop Robert N. Lynch from the Diocese of St. Petersburg initiated the Ministries of Mercy initiative to support and foster parish ministries that serve the poor, suffering, and marginalized. The initiative was divided into five groups that identified where the need is; food & clothing, shelter, life, visitation, and health. The Ministries of Mercy are currently serving at parishes and the following story highlights Clearwater Central Catholic High School’s contribution to the shelter ministry of Pinellas Hope.Mary Alice Beck, a sophomore at Clearwater Central Catholic High School holds her hammer firmly as she taps the head of a nail into the side of a wooden panel. She and more than one hundred of her classmates gather next to the school’s baseball field to assemble 10 wooden platforms. When the work is complete, the 11-by-11 foot platforms will be delivered to Pinellas Hope, a homeless shelter for adults.
“The platforms are lifesavers; they will allow us to raise the tents off the ground and provide a safe haven where homeless adults may sleep undisturbed,” Angelia Mosley, facility manager for Pinellas Hope, says. Read more ...
Creating A Welcoming Home For Families Who Have Little Or Nothing
Standing in a room of furniture and clothing, Pam Stamey, parishioner of St. Stephen Catholic Church, and Heidi Smith smile as they recall the weekend they first helped a family furnish their home. The need surfaced while Pam was working with Deacon Rick at St. Stephen Catholic Church on Underwear Sunday to collect underwear, socks, and t-shirts to give to schools for families in need. Dover Elementary called Pam to tell her a single mother of four was moving into the San Jose Mission with nothing and needed three twin beds. “I kept wondering how five people would sleep in three beds,” Pam says. “The mother later told me that her 11 year old daughter would sleep in a twin with the 9 year old daughter. The 7 year old son would sleep in a twin with the 5 year old son, and she would sleep in one.” Knowing three twin beds was too little, Pam says she went over to San Jose Mission to see what the family really needed. Realizing it would be challenging yet fun to get the apartment furnished in three days, she called her friend Heidi for help. Read more ...