Metropolitan Ministries is a nonprofit organization that provides services to homeless and at-risk individuals in Hillsborough County, including shelter, meals, childcare, and job assistance. The document discusses the organization's mission, common misconceptions about homelessness, facts about homelessness in the local community, Metropolitan Ministries' history since 1972, and various volunteer opportunities.

1. WELCOME TO METROPOLITAN MINISTRIESARE YOU READYTO VOLUNTEER?

2. WHAT WE DOMetropolitan Ministries’ mission is to care for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in our community through services that alleviate suffering, promote dignity and instill self-sufficiency…as an expression of the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ.

3. When you think about a homeless person, what do you think about?

4. MISCONCEPTIONS

5. MISCONCEPTIONS

6. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid off

7. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot work

8. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot workA man with a mental illness without the resources for treatment

9. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot workA man with a mental illness without the resources for treatment A child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18

10. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot workA man with a mental illness without the resources for treatmentA child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18A young man caught up in the despair of drug and alcohol addictions

11. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot work A man with a mental illness without the resources for treatment A child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18 A young man caught up in the despair of drug and alcohol addictions A woman escaping an abusive relationship with only the clothes on her back

12. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot work A man with a mental illness without the resources for treatment A child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18 A young man caught up in the despair of drug and alcohol addictions A woman escaping an abusive relationship with only the clothes on her back An elderly couple on a fixed income with rising rent, insurance, medical costs

13. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot work A man with a mental illness without the resources for treatment A child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18 A young man caught up in the despair of drug and alcohol addictions A woman escaping an abusive relationship with only the clothes on her back An elderly couple on a fixed income with rising rent, insurance, medical costs A man who can’t secure employment despite having skills because he has no address, phone, clean clothes, or a place to shower

14. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot work A man with a mental illness without the resources for treatment A child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18 A young man caught up in the despair of drug and alcohol addictions A woman escaping an abusive relationship with only the clothes on her back An elderly couple on a fixed income with rising rent, insurance, medical costs A man who can’t secure employment despite having skills because he has no address, phone, clean clothes, or a place to shower A family living in their car because the apartment they struggled to afford has been converted to condos; the parents terrified they will lose their children

15. When you think about a homeless person, do you think about… A single mother making minimum wage who loses the struggle to afford rent, childcare, transportation, and food because she is laid offA family whose father suffers a debilitating illness and cannot work A man with a mental illness without the resources for treatment A child who ages out of the foster care system at age 18 A young man caught up in the despair of drug and alcohol addictions A woman escaping an abusive relationship with only the clothes on her back An elderly couple on a fixed income with rising rent, insurance, medical costs A man who can’t secure employment despite having skills because he has no address, phone, clean clothes, or a place to shower A family living in their car because the apartment they struggled to afford has been converted to condos; the parents terrified they will lose their children All these situations are true; real people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the Tampa Bay community

16. THE FACTSThere are over 17,000 homeless men, women, and children in Hillsborough County. 23% are children. Hillsborough unemployment rate is DOWN to 11.6%, still one of the highest in the nation.

17. HISTORY1972-198913 downtown churches launch Metropolitan MinistriesGap House provides help and shelter for 12 familiesFamily Care Center opensHoliday Donation and Distribution Center opens

18. HISTORY1990-2000PromiseLand nationally accredited childcare center opensKitchen serves first meal; can prepare 10,000 dailyMetropolitan Ministries’ Academy opens, America’s first charter school for homeless children housed in a shelter

19. HISTORY2000-2010Meal distribution program expands to four counties. Prepared meals served daily increases from 300 to 2,000.Uplift U® Self-Sufficiency program beginsFirst transitional housing, then Sanctuary Town HomesOutreach Services grows to 13,000+ families each yearCompassion + Action launchedUrban Immersion inner city missions program launchedInside the Box social entrepreneurship initiative launched

20. …AND BEYOND22,000 families annually receive Outreach & Prevention Services30,000 families annually receive holiday food and toy assistance5,000+ children annually receive new backpacks and supplies25.5 million meals served375,000 nights of shelter provided1.5 million children had their lives changed1.4 million volunteer hoursMorris Hintzman, CEOTim Marks, President

21. Compassion + Action is a Metropolitan Ministries’ collaborative that mobilizes partnerships to meet the growing need in local neighborhoods and transform the lives of families in crisis.

25. HOLIDAY SEASONWith dignity, integrity, and hope, the holiday experience will foster opportunities for all to witness and join in the giving or receiving that exemplifies community and allows miracles to happen. Open 1 week prior to Thanksgiving & 2 weeks prior to Christmas1,000 families per day800 volunteers per day3 smaller versions (Pasco, Pinellas, Brandon)

26. Video Time!VIDEO TIME

27. E-TOUR TIME

28. OUTREACHVOLUNTEER CENTER

29. Outreach is our front door to people In need…Food Assistance

30. Clothing Vouchers

31. Access Site

32. Employment Lab

33. Florida ID

34. Meal Site Partners

35. Free Income Tax service

36. Housing

37. Hotel vouchers

38. Emergency – On site - Uplift U

39. Transitional- Off site

40. ReferralsOpen M-F 9:00-5:00 Sa 9:00-1:00

41. Metro MarketOpen M-F 9:00-5:00 Sa 9:00-1:00 Counselors Give Families with kitchens Vouchers for food

42. Metro OutfittersOpen M-F 9:00-5:00 Sa 9:00-1:00 Vouchers forClothing andFurniture

43. CLOTHING WAREHOUSEVOLUNTEER CENTERFOODWAREHOUSE

44. WAREHOUSESSorting Donations

45. Food

46. Clothing

47. Hygiene productsOpen M-F 8:00-4:00 Sa 8:00-3:30

48. CHILD CAREVOLUNTEER CENTER

49. PROMISELANDDaycare (Ages 0-2)