Detroit’s Cathedral Arts Apartments opened in November, and the positive impact they are having on residents is already evident. 

One resident had been living in a nearby hotel for the last 24 years, but has now found a home at Cathedral Arts. “I felt at home the moment I walked in the door,” he said. “I love my apartment; it’s unbelievable — it has a microwave, new cabinets and a washer and dryer.” 

One aspect of life at Cathedral Arts that the resident, who is not named for privacy reasons, particularly appreciates is the community room. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a building with a room where people can get together and get to know each other and feel like a real community.”

Located across the street from the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, the Cathedral Arts Apartments were built on a previously vacant lot, owned by the Archdiocese of Detroit and which the cathedral parish has maintained for the last 20 years. There are 53 apartments altogether, with a small selection of apartments that are income-based through the Detroit Housing Commission. The apartments were developed as a joint effort between the Archdiocese of Detroit, MHT Housing, Inc., and the city of Detroit.

The apartments are also home to the M-Training Center, “a program created to help those in need develop specific skills to assist in securing a career for the future,” said Gerald Collins, marketing director for MHT Housing, Inc., the developer that owns Cathedral Apartments. This is an important feature, as it helps residents to prepare for long-term self-sufficiency.

The apartments are one of the initiatives in the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament’s “master plan,” according to the cathedral’s rector, Father J.J. Mech. The driving force behind the master plan is the pastoral letter “Unleash the Gospel,” written by Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron in 2017. “It is a resource that offers guidance on how to live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and how to help the poor and marginalized in the community,” Father Mech said.

“While economic systems and values fluctuate throughout history, as Christ’s body here on earth we continuously live out our discipleship by acting on the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching,” Father Mech continued. “The beginning point is people’s innate human dignity. In the spirit of the corporal works of mercy, our role isn’t solely to put a roof over someone’s head, but also to be welcoming and empower them.”

 

The cathedral parish has taken great pains to establish a sense of community with the apartments, even before the apartment complex opened. One thing they have done is a weekly “neighborhood barbeque” every Sunday on the front porch of the cathedral. “We do this to welcome everyone in the surrounding area and offer an opportunity to experience real community,” Father Mech said. They even provide opportunities for guests to fill out applications to become residents.

 

 

Catholic Charities Initiatives

Detroit is just one diocese throughout the United States offering affordable housing to those in need in their communities.

Catholic Charities agencies are among the largest providers of safe and affordable housing, and throughout the country they are living up to Pope St. John Paul II’s plea for adequate housing.

Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC), in Virginia, has been providing supportive housing services since 2004 and housing and financial counseling services since 2010, according to Katie Dillon, the communications manager. “We believe that housing is a human right, and we are committed to assisting those who are experiencing homelessness or on the verge of homelessness find safe, stable, long-term solutions,” Dillon said. The services provided by Commonwealth Catholic Charities are open to anyone, regardless of faith, not just Catholics.

There are eligibility criteria for certain programs, however. For example, there is program known as Youth Hub, which provides case management, mentorship and employment services for youth aged 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Additionally, there is a program known as HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS/HIV), which provides case management and housing support for individuals with AIDS/HIV.

Between October 2023 and August 2024, Commonwealth Catholic Charities assisted more than 2,000 individuals in various programs through supportive housing and homeless services. An additional 824 individuals were helped with short-term rent and utility assistance and individualized support and resources for long-term housing success and financial stability, through CCC’s housing counseling services.

“Commonwealth Catholic Charities exists to serve those in need,” Dillon said. “In accordance with Catholic teaching, when a fellow human being is hungry, cold or alone, we are here to look after their needs with dignity and compassion.”

 

Shelter in San Diego

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of San Diego (CCDSD) operates four departments and more than 20 programs, including several focused on affordable housing and homeless services within the community. “We serve everyone in need, regardless of gender, race or religion,” said Kimberly Ortiz, director of outreach and communications for CCDSD.

CCDSD runs a number of programs for housing, including free homeless shelters, day centers such as Rachel’s Women’s Center, Rachel’s Night Shelter, Rachel’s Promise, La Posada Men’s Shelter, and the El Centro Day Center. In addition, the Homeless Services Department manages three residential facilities: House of Rachel & Casa Maria, a shared living environment for low-income and formerly unsheltered adult women, fostering community and promoting self-reliance; Leah’s Residence, affordable permanent housing for formerly unsheltered women with special needs, featuring an on-site service coordinator to provide additional support; and Rachel’s Apartments, affordable studio apartments for women actively engaged in recovery programs, where residents can stay for up to 24 months. 

They also provide services to assist seniors living in six different locations throughout San Diego County, serving more than 650 seniors.

“Our mission to serve the poor, unsheltered and marginalized is grounded in Catholic teaching,” said Appaswamy Pajanor, CCDSD CEO, “especially the Gospel of Matthew 25:35-40, where Jesus identifies with the least in society: ‘For I was hungry, and you gave me food …’ Helping those in need is not just charity; it embodies Gospel values of compassion, mercy and justice.”

“We meet people where they are, offering support with dignity and without judgment, in line with the Catholic belief that all are made in God’s image and deserve respect,” he continued.

While CCDSD does not require people to be Catholic in order to receive their services, “our service to others is an opportunity to show Christ’s love through our actions, embodying the values of compassion and service,” Pajanor said. “Through this, people can witness the principles of our faith in action.”

 

Missionary Discipleship

Back in Detroit, beyond helping to provide for the physical needs of those served, the apartments are an opportunity for evangelization. 

Part of the vision of the Detroit cathedral’s master plan is to provide engaging arts, culture, educational and formational opportunities, “so as to warmly welcome people of all faiths and backgrounds,” said Father Mech, “helping them better encounter the love of God and grow in their personal understanding of their mission as disciples.”