In the last five decades, our organization has grown from volunteers providing one meal a day to a lifelong cause of alleviating the experience of poverty and homelessness in our community. We provide supportive services and access to resources to our neighbors in need, and we work to inspire compassionate and creative solutions in Missoula and beyond.
The Poverello Center, which provides food, shelter, help, and hope to all who ask, proudly commemorates our 50th anniversary of dedicated service to unhoused members of our community.
1974
In 1974, a group of community members united to create a “house of hospitality” called the Poverello Center. They served one meal a day, one day a week.
1981
In 1981, we opened our first shelter, which slept 85 people per night and served up to three meals per day.
2014
In 2014, we constructed a new building and moved into our current location on West Broadway and added veterans programs, medical respite, and homeless outreach.
2020
In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we opened the Johnson Street Emergency Shelter on behalf of Missoula City and County to shelter an additional 150 people in a lower-barrier environment.
2021
In 2021, we purchased the Clark Fork Inn to expand our veteran services and serve as transitional housing for our Housing Montana Heroes program. Renovations will begin in 2024.
2024
Today, we operate the main shelter on West Broadway and the Johnson Street Emergency Shelter. We also provide staffing at Blue Heron Place in partnership with Homeword and the Missoula Housing Authority.
Our Mission
The Poverello Center provides food, shelter, help, and hope to all who ask.
Our Vision
We believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of their housing status. We envision a collaborative and supportive community where everyone has a safe place to call home.
The Need in Our Community
The lack of resources to serve unhoused Montanans is nothing new. However, recent data shows that Montana is leading the nation in the percentage increase in people living without shelter.
Low vacancy rates, high rent, health conditions, and lack of mental health or substance use services are making it harder for people to find and keep housing.
1,084
2,080
Provided shelter for unduplicated individuals in 2020 in 2023
Growth In Services
TOTAL: 4,011,457 Meals
TOTAL:
962,629 Nights of Shelter
Meals
180,000 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994
1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024
Nights of Shelter
Our Advocacy
Direct services are important, but systemic change is the key to solving homelessness. Our executive director, Jill Bonny, has been instrumental in creating the Montana Coalition to Solve Homelessness, a group of shelters, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders that advocate for policies and resources to ensure that unsheltered people in Montana can get the housing and services they need.
This coalition will work to transform how the public and policymakers talk about people living unhoused. The Montana Coalition to Solve Homelessness can help secure funding and provide the support necessary to offer shelter guests a consistent and high level of services, which is critical to addressing the fundamental causes of homelessness.
In 2023, the Montana Coalition to Solve Homelessness secured $5 million in first-of-its-kind legislative funding for emergency shelters, with $750,000 going to the Poverello Center, Mountain Home Montana, and the YWCA in Missoula.
“I feel like, in some small way, I am giving back what was so freely given to me. I can relate to so many of our guests because I used to be in their position.”
— Kristy, staff member
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In 2022, 126 guests moved from the shelter into temporary or permanent housing. 126 247365
317 million in medical cost savings businesses supported by the Homeless Outreach Team million offset in annual chronic homelessness cost burden guests moved into housing situations Shelter and resources available at any time relief from the harsh Montana seasons
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Where systems struggle to meet community and family needs, the Poverello Center steps in.
We provide shelter and resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
We help keep people out of the elements during harsh Montana seasons, allowing for a sense of stability as our guests move toward permanent housing solutions.
Research done by the Missoula Economic Partnership shows that chronic homelessness costs roughly $4 million every year. Reducing homelessness through emergency shelter, transitional housing, and access to permanent housing can keep this cost down.
Our Homeless Outreach Team responded to 317 businesses concerned about unhoused neighbors in 2023.
Since our Medical Respite program began in 2016, it is estimated to have saved more than $2 million in medical costs, such as emergency room visits.
Our Impact
We serve three meals a day at the Poverello Center and operate a food pantry for anyone who is hungry, including families and individuals not staying at the shelter. Sack lunches are available for those who cannot make meal service. Our food rescue program collects unsold food to use in our kitchen. In 2023, we rescued 477,552 lbs of food valued at $921,675.
Food Programs
The Poverello Center and the Johnson Street Emergency Shelter provide a warm place to sleep for 300 people per night.
Emergency Shelter
Our Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) provides food, gear, and support for individuals living on the streets. They build relationships and help connect people with the resources they need. The program offers a HOT-line (493-7955) as an alternative to costly 911 calls for concerns about unhoused neighbors’ safety or behavior.
Our veterans transitional housing programs provide housing and case management to eligible veterans living unhoused. These programs offer veterans one-on-one support to live healthier, more sustainable lives.
Homeless Outreach
Veteran
Housing
We have knowledgeable staff who can help guests get birth certificates, navigate case management, and access mail or the Internet. We also provide the necessities like showers, toiletries, laundry, and phone access.
Support Services
Medical respite beds are available for guests experiencing homelessness to have a place to rest, recover, and heal. Medical respite is proven to improve patients’ health and housing outcomes.
Medical Respite Our Services & Support
During our 50th anniversary, we honor the service and the commitment of guests, staff, volunteers, and the greater Missoula community.
This is a time to reflect on our past, celebrate successes, and plan for the future.
We are committed to safely serving as many people as possible by providing food, shelter, help, and hope for as long as our community requires our services.
Together, we can create a Missoula where all our neighbors have what they need. We hope you will join us in commemorating our 50th anniversary.
To learn about events, volunteer opportunities, how to donate, or other ways you can help, go to thepoverellocenter.org.
For our anniversary, we launched the 50 Years of Hope Campaign to raise $1 million to support our vital work.
Move more people into housing.
We want everyone in Missoula to have a safe place to call home.
By fully staffing our Homeless Outreach (HOT) Team, we can accelerate the pace of transitioning guests into stable housing.
Housing our heroes.
We are in the process of renovating a new facility on Broadway to provide veterans with dignified transitional housing.
Improve services.
Adapting to people’s needs and providing supports like medical respite takes resources, and costs have never been higher.
Funding will help maintain equitable access to our services.
