DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — The Pope Francis Center, a leading advocate for Detroit’s homeless community, celebrated the official opening of its Bridge Housing Campus on June 3. This $40 million facility, situated on 5.3 acres in the Core City neighborhood, was built to combat chronic homelessness within the city.

“When we work together, miracles happen,” Reverend Tim McCabe, president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center, said at the opening ceremony held within the campus’s gymnasium. 

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The event itself emphasized this message, drawing Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Speaker of the House Joe Tate, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and other dignitaries and community leaders.

Described by Pope Francis Center officials as the first of its kind in Michigan, the Bridge Housing Campus goes beyond offering temporary refuge. It provides a comprehensive suite of services designed to move individuals toward self-sufficiency. 

Residents will have access to job training programs within dedicated classrooms, a commercial kitchen, cafeteria, medical and dental clinics, gymnasium, barber shop, and 40 studio apartments.

Perhaps most unique is the thoughtfully designed outdoor shelter area, equipped with heated walkways and overhead heaters, catering to those who may not be immediately comfortable transitioning indoors.

Initial residents are expected to move in by late June, with accommodations initially prioritizing single men but with plans for future inclusion of women and children.

Funding for the project primarily came from donations over several years, including a significant $13 million donation from the Julia Burke Foundation. Additional support came from the J. Addison and Marion M. Bartush Family Foundation, the city of Detroit, and a consortium of corporations and foundations.

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Founded in 1990 by Saints Peter & Paul Jesuit Church, the Pope Francis Center has a long history of serving Detroit’s homeless population. According to Reverend McCabe, the new Bridge Housing Campus  “embodies the spirit of Detroit. Amidst challenges, it stands as a symbol of unity and hope.”