St. Martin de Porres Shelter

St. Martin de Porres Shelter provides safe and dignified shelter for homeless men ages 50 and older.  The Shelter opened in October 1984 in response to the growing need for an emergency shelter for this special population of older men who are vulnerable to the weather, street predators, and illness.

We currently operate at our full capacity of 52 men daily.  In 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic, St. Martin’s underwent renovations and converted from a nighttime-only shelter to a program that is open 365 days a year:  24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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.

Our Services

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 older homeless community year-round. We provide:

  • 24/7 Shelter
  • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  • Medical Care:  A formal agreement with Healthcare for the Homeless provides nursing services up to 40 hours a week, without cost to St. Martin’s.
  • Transportation to and from Medical Appointments
  • Housing Case Management:  Our case managers assist residents in securing permanent housing; accessing community resources; and finding support from governmental agencies.
  • Mental Health and Substance-Use Counseling and Referrals
  • Counseling from VA Outreach Worker
  • Clothing
  • Restroom and Shower Facilities
  • Laundry Room
  • Library
  • Chapel
  • Mailing Address for Residents’ Use
  • Memorial Services:  St. Martin’s hosts memorial services for men who have stayed at the Shelter.

Volunteer

Your time and skills help keep our expenses low so we can focus our financial resources on providing safe, 24/7 shelter for unhoused individuals.  St. Martin’s offers a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year:

  • Off-site Food Preparation
  • On-site Meal & Beverage Service
  • Clothing Organization
  • Towel & Supplies Distribution
  • Barber Services
  • Special Event Support
  • Professional Services

To volunteer or get more information on these activities, please call (206) 323-6341.

Monetary Donations

Your tax-deductible financial donations enable us to provide a safe, warm place for a homeless man to sleep, shower, wash his clothes, eat a nutritious meal, and get counseling. A gift of $35.00 will allow a man to stay at St. Martin’s for 24 hours; $250.00 for one week.

  • On-Line Donations
    To make an immediate and secure online donation, click here.
  • Cash & Check Donations
    You can send a donation via US Mail to:
    Catholic Community Services
    Attn: Catholic Charities Foundation
    100 23rd Ave. S.
    Seattle, WA 98144-5979
  • Planned Gifts, Stock & Other Donations
    St. Martin de Porres Shelter also welcomes bequests and memorial gifts, as well as other types of support. Please contact the Catholic Charities Foundation, at (206) 328-5707 to discuss a wide variety of ways to give.

For other questions regarding direct contributions, please contact Angela Chinn Peterson.

In-Kind Donations

Your donation of food helps feed 52+ homeless men a day.  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 the Shelter directly at 206-323-6342 and ask for Angie or any available staff member.

Get Help
(206) 323-6341
E-mail Us

Volunteer
(206) 323-6341
Email Us!

General Inquiries
(206) 323-6336
E-mail


View St. Martin de Porres Shelter in a larger map

1561 Alaskan Way South
Seattle, WA 98134

Mail Donations To:
Catholic Community Services
Attn: Catholic Charities Foundation
100 23rd Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98144-5979