Crisis Response
Delivering immediate aid to those experiencing homelessness, hunger, and addiction.
How you can help
Outreach Meals
Since our founding in 1988, St. Matthew’s House hasn’t missed a day of serving outreach meals.
Outreach meals are served three times a day in East Naples and Immokalee to anyone in need, regardless of their circumstances. When combined with our residential programs, St. Matthew’s House serves more than 300,000 hot meals every year.
By meeting immediate needs for individuals in crisis, it is our hope that relationships formed around the tables would create motivation to seek holistic transformation through St. Matthew’s House and our partners.
Food Pantry
The St. Matthew’s House food pantry exists to serve individuals and families who may not be homeless or in need of residential services, but still struggle to make ends meet.
Our program provides groceries and hygiene products through a client-choice pantry and drive-thru food distributions. Partnerships with Harry Chapin Food Bank, Midwest Food Bank Florida, retailers, food drives, and donors supply the food needed to operate. Each year, the St. Matthew’s House food pantry sees more than 170,000 visits from individuals and families in need.
Our goal is to meet immediate needs while also empowering individuals to achieve food security and overall well-being. In conjunction with community partners and the St. Matthew’s House Empowerment Hub, our pantry connects families with resources ranging from nutrition to financial literacy and entrepreneurship to promote economic stability and self-sufficiency long-term.
Intake/Crisis Coaching
St. Matthew’s House offers crisis coaching as the initial point of contact for individuals experiencing homelessness or addiction. Our team assess needs, provide information, determine eligibility, and connect prospective participants to needed resources, including St. Matthew’s House shelter and recovery programs.
This team serves as our organization’s liaison with community partners, collaborating with medical and mental health providers, law enforcement, schools, and other social service agencies to identify those in need of residential support and coordinate placement. In cases where our programs are at capacity or clients are ineligible, our crisis coaches work to find suitable alternative placements, ensuring that no one is left without assistance whenever possible.
Each year, St. Matthew’s House crisis coaching provides nearly 85,000 touchpoints with individuals or family members seeking support through our residential programs.
Jail Chaplaincy
The St. Matthew’s House jail chaplaincy is inspired by the teachings of Matthew 25, where Jesus instructs his disciples to visit those in prison. Dedicated to providing spiritual support and guidance, our chaplains offer compassionate care, counseling, and religious services to incarcerated individuals in Collier County and Hendry County jails.
With a focus on fostering hope, healing, and personal growth, our program seeks to address the holistic needs of inmates. Our chaplains also serve as liaisons between inmates and community resources, including other St. Matthew’s House programs, helping to facilitate reintegration upon release.
Each year, the St. Matthew’s House jail chaplaincy program facilitates more than 2,000 face-to-face interactions with inmates.
