Camillus House

Camillus House is a non-profit agency that provides humanitarian services to poor and homeless men, women and children in Miami-Dade County in southern Florida. Founded in 1960, Camillus House is one of the oldest and largest continuously operated charities in South Florida. Brother Mathias Barrett, founder of the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, founded Camillus House which continues to be sponsored by the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd under the guidance of a lay president, board of directors, and staff.

Camillus House provides a variety of services including direct care for homeless individuals, treatment programs and job training for individuals with substance abuse and mental health issues, emergency, transitional, and permanent housing for individuals and families, and healthcare for the homeless and uninsured.

Following the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, the mission of Camillus House is to provide Christian hospitality and respect for life through direct services of food, clothing, shelter, addiction counseling, behavioral health and job training, and health care to the poor and homeless of South Florida. Every service offered at Camillus is carried out with the belief that every human being is precious in the eyes of God and deserves love, respect, and a chance to live a dignified life.

The stated goal of Camillus House is the elimination of chronic homelessness in Miami through a comprehensive treatment program carried out in a life affirming environment, giving chronically homeless individuals the strength, courage and tools necessary to rebuild their lives.

Camillus House was founded by Brother Mathais Barrett who arrived in Miami in the summer of 1960 with nothing more than a cardboard suitcase. Brother Mathais had been helping the poor and disadvantaged in other cities for more than forty years. He was asked to come to Miami by Archdiocese of Miami Bishop Coleman Carroll to help serve a large influx of refugees from Cuba who were arriving in Miami with little more than the clothes on their backs. Brother Mathias agreed to help on the condition that his ministry would serve all who needed help, regardless of race, creed, color, or religion.

So in the summer of 1960 brother Mathias began his ministry serving a bowl of donated cornflakes to a hungry elderly, man. Brother Mathias would name his ministry Camillus House after St. Camillus de Lellis, an Italian monk and Patron Saint of Nursing, who devoted his life to the care of the poor and the sick and founded the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick and Poor.

...
Wikipedia