HOPE Hospitality and Warming Center, Inc. (previously called Place of HOPE) was founded in 1998 as a community response to a person freezing to death in downtown Pontiac. The organization began with the mission to create a place where people struggling with homelessness would be welcomed, find warmth, and have access to support services. Since this time, the center has provided seasonal emergency shelter for individuals in northern Oakland County, turning no one away.

Located at the Baldwin Center, the shelter hosts up to 65 guests each night, providing warmth, an evening meal, a shower, a safe place to sleep, and—on many mornings—a light breakfast. The center also provides its guests with hygiene kits, and dry socks and underwear. HOPE Hospitality and Warming Center was the first shelter in the area to implement the Michigan State Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and continues to be an active partner in the Oakland County Continuum of Care (CoC) and the Oakland County Taskforce on Homelessness and Affordable Housing (OCTHAH). In addition to the ongoing provision of basic needs, the organization works with shelter guests to find housing and additional supportive services appropriate to the needs of each individual. HOPE also invites volunteers and agencies with programs related to housing, mental health, and other relevant issues to visit the center to conduct outreach.

Between December 25th of 2008 and April 5th of 2009, the HOPE Hospitality and Warming Center provided 3,129 nights of shelter, and 5,392 meals for people struggling with homelessness. This work was achieved thanks to 4,552 hours of volunteering.

This season, we will operate from November 27th through late-April. We are located at The Baldwin Center, 212 Baldwin Ave, Pontiac, MI and are open to overnight guests at 8:00pm each evening.