Missoula County recently announced that the Poverello Center will reopen and operate the Temporary Safe Outdoor Space, or TSOS. I wanted to share why we’re taking this on and how it fits with the work we already do. TSOS was created during the COVID pandemic through a partnership with Missoula County, United Way of Missoula…
More Than Shelter: Why the Pov Is the Right Operator for TSOS Read More »
A Letter from Jill: Winter 2025 Dear friends, At the Poverello Center, the holiday season is when we come together to serve delicious holiday meals to hundreds of people, greet kind-hearted donors who bring socks and warm clothes, and feel immense gratitude for a community that truly cares. But we know this season is also
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Change and Hope | A Letter from Jill It’s been almost a month since the Johnson Street Shelter closed, and we’re finding our new rhythm at the Poverello Center. Our main shelter on Broadway is nearly full every night and we anticipate reaching capacity very soon. Our staff, smaller than last year due to lost
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Volunteer Spotlight: Megan Pfau The annual fall Pumpkins for the Pov campaign relies on one important ingredient: pumpkins. With the help of a local farmer who has a heart for improving the world around her, we can bring them to stores! Megan Pfau inherited a beautiful plot of land, just under 10 acres, when her
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Program Spotlight: Direct Care Our Direct Care staff is our largest team, and their day-to-day work keeps the Poverello Center running. The first aspect of the direct care job is working with people, which can be a big task in a place as busy as our shelter. Within just one hour, someone might be arriving
Staff Spotlight: Dave Paddock The Poverello Center often refers to our direct care staff as the “front line” of service providers, because they are the first people to see a guest when they enter the building. If you’ve stopped in for a meal, to drop off a donation, or to volunteer, you might have met
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This month’s blog is written by Sophia Shrom, Homeless Outreach Team member. As a long-time member of the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), I’ve had the unique opportunity to see Missoula through a different lens: one shaped by daily, on-the-ground outreach and genuine relationships with our most vulnerable neighbors. These individuals are more than the faces
Navigating Solutions | Housing Navigation for Missoula’s Most Vulnerable Read More »
This month’s blog is written by Stephanie Dolan, Director of Development. Creating last year’s “Poverello Past & Future” Exhibit was a deep dive into 50 years of dedicated service, a mission that loves its people, and Missoula’s history as a community with a caring soul. I learned that the challenges we face now — community
Over a Half-Century of Hope: The Annual Poverello Gala of Hope Read More »
When Alexis Cabezas moved to Missoula for a job at Providence St. Patrick’s Hospital, her commute took her past the Poverello Center on Broadway each day. Where some might see a place that feels daunting, Alexis saw something different—an opportunity to learn more about her new community and to give back. She began volunteering at
Volunteer Spotlight: Alexis Cabezas Read More »
For Matt, a member of the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), the success of our clients — especially those who are unsheltered or staying at the Johnson Street Shelter—hits close to home. In 2020 and 2021, Matt was staying at Johnson Street himself, navigating a difficult cycle of incarceration and addiction treatment. “Honestly,” he reflects, “it
Staff Spotlight: Matt Brown Read More »
