On March 2, 2015, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown officially opened its homeless shelter at 899 Bedford St. in Johnstown. The Martha & Mary House will provide support, safety, and hope to individuals and families in the form of shelter, planning, and caring case managers. The shelter can accommodate up to 15 people, and residents can stay for up to 30 days--enough time to secure financial stability and a more permanent residence. You must be a resident of Cambria County for 90-days to eligible.
In addition to offering a place to sleep and day-to-day necessities, the Martha & Mary House helps individuals to create successful plans for moving forward by offering:
This ambitious and much-needed project would not be possible without the many individuals, organizations, businesses, and churches of various denominations that provided generous financial support needed to open the doors. Ongoing community support will be necessary to maintain the shelter and the needs of those staying there.
1,323 = Nights of shelter provided to Cambria County families in 2014+
204 = Number of Cambria County families provided with temporary housing in 2014+
23% = Percentage of all homeless people who are children under the age of 18*
*On a single night in January 2013; stat from projecthome.org
+ Catholic Charities has been providing housing at a temporary location while preparing to open the Martha & Mary House.
"If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you." - Leviticus 25:35-36
Committed to serving the people of central Pennsylvania without regard for race, ethnic origin, religious belief, or financial means, through the generosity of donors from the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese, from the communities we serve, and from the United Ways in Cambria-Somerset Counties, Clinton, Centre County and Blair County.