Our History

Finding a way to help homeless families and hungry people has been the cornerstone of Metropolitan Ministries’ approach since 1972 when 13 downtown churches, all different denominations, joined together. While each church had been trying to do their part individually, they found themselves duplicating efforts and overwhelmed by the growing needs. They decided to consolidate
their efforts and formed
Metropolitan Ministries.

During the first five months, more than 8,000 people sought help from Metropolitan Ministries and it became evident that the original location, space donated by St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, was far too small to meet the need.

From the mid-70s through the mid-80s, the needs of homeless and hungry people grew. The Ministries went though a period of expansion and growth to meet the increasing community needs, which included:

• The Gap House, a place where homeless families and hungry people, who were falling through the “gap” between existing social services, could come for help. The Gap House began in a two-story house on North Florida Avenue. A second house was added two years later, increasing the Ministries’ shelter capacity from 6 to 12 homeless families.
• The family residence was built, in 1986, to meet the growing demands of homeless families within the community. The family residence provides hope, security and guidance for approximately 39 homeless families each night.
• The addition of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for single homeless men.
• The expansion of the Ministries’ Holiday Assistance program and the Holiday Center.

1991
PromiseLand, an on-site child care center licensed in January 1991 and nationally accredited in 1993, allows infants and toddlers to learn and play while their parent’s pursue educational and employment opportunities that will help lay the foundation for self-sufficiency.

1996
Metropolitan Ministries launched Project Uplift, a building campaign to expand facilities to serve poor and homeless people more effectively.

In November, Metropolitan Ministries opened Phase I of Project Uplift, the Manna House, a facility serving homeless men and women with food, emergency shelter, job placement and counseling for long-term help.

The Men’s Rehabilitation Program, a 180-day recovery program, was in full effect serving about 50 men at a time. The women’s overnight shelter grew from 12 to 24 beds in just a few months, but was limited to providing basic needs of food and shelter.

1997
In June, with the help of Outback Steakhouse, Metropolitan Ministries opened Phase II of Project Uplift, The Majic Kitchen and Family Grill. The kitchen was built to provide a high volume of nutritious meals in an efficient way. It also serves as a job-training program for residents. With a full staff and volunteers, the kitchen is capable of preparing up to 10,000 meals daily.

1998
Metropolitan Ministries Academy, America’s first charter school to be located within a homeless shelter to address the educational needs of homeless children. Serving an average of 30 students a day, the Academy is located onsite and provides individualized assessment paired with appropriate curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

2000
In August, the Ministries expanded its services to reach more people, in more places and in more ways than ever before. This included the addition of off-site meal partner sites and the development of Uplift U®, a more comprehensive, residential program designed to meet the long-term needs of residents.

Through Outreach & Prevention Services the Ministries reaches out to hungry people and provides prevention services through emergency assistance and referrals.

Uplift U® is a comprehensive residential program aimed at dealing with the issues of poverty and homelessness by focusing on the needs of each individual situation and leading to self-sufficiency.

The same year, Metropolitan Ministries began reaching beyond its North Florida Avenue facility to provide meals for hungry people living throughout the Tampa Bay area. Collaborative partnerships were formed with other organizations that desired to serve people in their own neighborhoods. The Ministries provides hot, prepared meals while the Community Partners serve the food, provide hope, and offer referrals to the Ministries or other appropriate social service organizations for anyone in need.

2002
Metropolitan Ministries expanded its outreach to hungry people in Pinellas and Pasco Counties by partnering with three organizations to provide hot, prepared meals. In July, the Ministries expanded its Uplift U® program to include a new service, Community of Promise. This service helps residents transition into their own housing as self-sufficient residents of the Tampa Bay area, and guides and encourages them to become leaders in their own neighborhood.

2003
The Ministries witnessed the needs of poor and homeless families increase dramatically as a result of the fledgling economy. In fact, nationally, the number of homeless families increased 20 percent in a single year and thousands more teetered on the edge of homelessness. To meet this increasing need and balance limited resources, Metropolitan Ministries focused on homeless prevention services, residential services for homeless families with children and single women, and transition assistance for families moving back into the community.