About Us
A Recovery Program...a Second Chance
Since 1987, St. Matthew's House and Immokalee Friendship House has provided housing, spiritual support and structured recovery programs for the homeless in Collier County, FL. St. Matthew's House can house 174 men, women and women with children in our combined facilities in Naples and Immokalee.
Homeless Children, a Sad Fact of Life
Sadly, there are always children living in our facilities, some of whom have graduated out of the foster care system with no place to go due to their mental health issues. These children, though they are still considered homeless, feel safer and more secure now that they have a home and a stable environment, which they had never had before.
Homelessness Facts
St. Matthew's House receives at least one call each week from the hospital with a patient who has no place to go. Homelessness continues to be a pervasive problem throughout this country and Naples is no different. The reality of homelessness in Collier County is measured each year through the homeless count. It is expected that we actually have about 2,000 homeless in our county, as they work hard to be unseen.
Health and Life Expectancy of a Homeless Person
The life expectancy for a chronically homeless person is 44 years of age for men and 40 years for women. It is the only segment of the population where women are not expected to live as long as men. The chronically homeless often have one or more serious and disabling health conditions, including mental health and/or substance abuse disorders. In 2007, 15 people who were current St. Matthew's House residents or past residents passed away, and those ranged in age from 22 to 54. Donate
St. Matthew's House Quick Facts:
- St. Matthew's House was founded as a non-profit homeless shelter and feeding ministry in 1988.
- We have been over capacity at our main shelter since June of 2005.
- We average over 43,000 nights in our emergency housing each year.
- We are the ONLY emergency housing and food ministry in all of Collier County.
- Of those residents who have graduated from the Wolfe Apartments two-year program, we have a 90% success rate, as few have returned to us homeless again since its inception in 2003.
- Our food pantries provide over 4,000 packages of groceries to those in need annually.
Links:
Old Firehouse Feeding Ministry
St. Matthew's House is a food ministry, serving over 140,000 meals per year to the homeless, families on the verge of homelessness and anyone who is hungry. The Old Firehouse was completely remodeled and reopened in October 2008. Those interested in helping to pay down the debt incurred from these renovations can purchase a Tribute Paver to be placed in the walkways of the Old Firehouse and at the main shelter.
Wolfe Apartments
St. Matthew's House operates a 46-unit, transitional housing facility to assist graduates of our program in their return to normal life. Wolfe residents are required to remain drug and alcohol-free, participate in a two-year program complete with counseling and group sessions and meet with a case manager on a regular basis.
Immokalee Friendship House
In late 2008, Immokalee Friendship House, a homeless shelter in Immokalee, FL, merged with St. Matthew's House to better serve the needs of those living in eastern Collier County. Significant upgrades to facilities and programs, as well as improved community relations have all resulted from this merger. Programs that have proven successful at St. Matthew's House have been put into place at the Friendship House.
Recovery Program
Of the population that we reach, 80% suffer from some sort of substance abuse and over 20% suffer from mental illness. We offer a 90-day substance abuse recovery program for those trying to better their lives.
Commercial Enterprises:
As government or county funding is not available, St. Matthew's House has developed commercial enterprises to help raise operational funds and become as self-sufficient as possible:
Thrift Stores, which also provide over $250,000 annually in free household goods and clothing to those in need via a voucher system
SMH Catering, a full-service catering company run by our Executive Chef and staffed by St. Matthew's House residents, offering a full array of menus for private parties, events and functions