Cooperative Downtown Ministries (Firehouse Shelter)

The mission of Cooperative Downtown Ministries, Inc. (Firehouse Ministries) is to provide to homeless men ages 18 and older in the Birmingham area a nurturing and caring environment offering supportive services that break the cycle of homelessness and empower individuals to achieve their highest potential. Central to the work of Firehouse Ministries is serving Birmingham’s chronically homeless men through emergency services (shelter, meals, showers, and access to healthcare). Our 100-bed shelter provides job training and placement, drug and alcohol programming, rehabilitation services, and mental healthcare. The presence of Firehouse Ministries expands well beyond the emergency shelter, including a 50-bed program assisting clients transitioning to permanent housing, a 24-bed permanent supportive housing site for individuals with severe mental illness, and 70-bed permanent supportive housing. Each program has case managers, peer support specialists, access to transportation, a gamut of supportive services, and access to addiction support groups. Our most distinctive contribution to the well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness is our growing emphasis on respite care, providing a humane discharge plan for individuals who are medically fragile, having been forcibly discharged from hospitals with multiple acute medical needs.