The Poverello’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) is out in the Missoula community every day, building trust and offering support to our unhoused neighbors. This compassionate team of five does so much more than provide life-saving essentials like food, water, sleeping bags, and warm clothing—they build real relationships with the people they serve. By meeting people where they are, listening to their stories, and understanding their needs, they help connect them to shelter, housing opportunities, employment resources, case management, treatment centers, and more.Through kindness and consistency, HOT reminds every person they meet that they are seen, valued, and never alone. 

As the Johnson Street Emergency Shelter closes, many people are finding themselves with nowhere to go, and are having to live unsheltered in Missoula. The HOT Team is the first line of defense for unsheltered homelessness, and they approach every person with respect, compassion, and a simple question: “can we get anything for you?”

For many team members, the work is directly from the heart. “My dad was homeless in Missoula for over 20 years, so I was already really familiar with the work and what the Pov offered,” says Katie Leahy, team lead. “What keeps me here is the hope, and the chance to see success. My dad didn’t make it into housing, but he was very close. So really for me, I love seeing it all the way to the end.” 

Every day, the Homeless Outreach Team makes a tangible difference for our neighbors, no matter their housing situation. With open hearts and hands, they provide resources and connect to next steps.