On any given night in Milwaukee, dozens of the county’s nearly 900 homeless people sleep unsheltered on the streets. Because people stay in shelters only temporarily, and others move in as some move out, the point-in-time count of 900 means nearly 10,000 local people have experienced homelessness for at least some time during the past year.
As the crisis remains a concern in the city, places like St. Benedict the Moor Chapel at 930 W. State St. help people survive and get back on their feet.
Since opening in 1970, St. Ben’s Community Meal Program has provided hot meals, showers, haircuts, clothing and an address to receive mail for city residents living at or below the poverty line. In addition to everything else, St. Ben’s also helps people obtain birth certificates, which are often essential for people to get a state ID, driver’s license or other documents they need for employment, housing and social services.
According to their ministry statistics in 2024, St. Ben’s helped people obtain 760 birth certificates, provided 8,212 showers, 87 haircuts, 3,562 hygiene bags and 38,796 meals.
The non-profit also helps families celebrate the holidays through their food box drive, which includes Thanksgiving essentials like turkey, gravy and stuffing for over 1,000 households. During Christmastime, St. Ben’s puts together a toy drive which gives children the ability to receive gifts as well.
“It’s made a tremendous impact on the city,” site manager Kenny Howard said.
Feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless are part of the mission of Catholic Social Teaching, Howard said, which is a doctrine focused on human dignity. Giving a hat and coat to someone who really needs them brings them joy as well, he added.
For many community participants, St. Ben’s is more than a meal stop — it’s a place to find meaning and community.
“They treat you like you’re their family,” Angie Miranda Leon, who receives weekly community meals and help finding housing, said.
Coming to St. Ben’s, she said, has encouraged her to remain strong for her daughter and never give up.
St. Ben’s partners with volunteers from Marquette University’s Midnight Run program, as well as with other community volunteers. Among them, Margaret King, a group leader and Midnight Run coordinator, said she gets more than she gives as a volunteer who puts herself in the shoes of the people she serves.
“It really opens your perspective on life and connects you with the community,” she said.
Another volunteer, community homeless advocate John Tatum, knows firsthand the struggles people coming to St. Ben’s face. Formerly homeless, he said he understands what it’s like to not know where to sleep.
“[St. Ben’s] gave me a place when I was homeless,” he said. “They gave me a place to lay my head; they gave me a place to take a shower and get something to eat.”
The former St. Ben’s beneficiary now works as a site host there, where he helps welcome the guests and assists people with any concerns. He also works security at the Fiserv Forum, where he helps with the Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette Athletics.
Dammond Powell has come to St. Ben’s since he was a child, and he said the agency has always helped his family. The holiday program has a special place in his heart, as it helps families who couldn’t otherwise afford gifts for their kids.
“I’m involved in the Christmas program and Thanksgiving program where they give out a little extra to the ones who might not be able to celebrate those holidays,” he said.
As the community continues to grapple with homelessness, St. Ben’s remains a beacon of hope for some, providing hot meals, showers, hygiene packages and other essential resources that serve members of the Milwaukee community.
This story was written by guest contributor Nick Gross. He can be reached at [email protected].
