Norristown Hospitality Center

Beginning as Norristown Ministries, Inc., a group of inter-faith religious leaders launched several distinct services between 1982 and 1990 to address the needs of economically marginalized neighbors. The 1992 closure of Norristown State Hospital spurred Norristown Ministries to establish a day center for those individuals made homeless by the closure. While the initial programs of Norristown Ministries continue to operate today, Norristown Hospitality Center has flourished since its 1992 establishment as an independent non-profit that today serves over 1,200 people annually, providing stabilizing services and supports for Norristown's most vulnerable neighbors those experiencing poverty, hunger, and homelessness.As a critical partner in the county's social safety net, we remain guided by our mission to provide basic needs and social services to empower those experiencing homelessness and poverty. We envision a world where all people live self-sufficiently with dignity and respect. Our overall goal is to improve health and wellness outcomes for housing and food insecure Montgomery County residents, and advance their stability and self-sufficiency goals.Operating as a Drop-in Day Center for over 100 people daily, our low-barrier approach breaks down barriers to critical services and stabilizing supports for a population that is regularly shut out of needed care. Services include a hot, nutritious meal, basic needs, including toiletries, period products, and a hot shower; mail and identification services, workforce development services, case management and resource coordination to support access to and enrollment in all eligible benefits and supports, a Code Blue and Red shelter, and access to healthcare and legal services through on-site partners. We use our morning meal as an entry point to the comprehensive supports and services we provide, and our collaborating partners expand our capacity and decrease barriers. This holistic approach improves health and wellness and advances stability.We are the only Norristown organization offering a free breakfast five days per week, the only Norristown organization offering a free shower five days per week, and the only organization offering on-demand case management, including for those in crisis who can't reach their regular case manager at other service organizations.NHC routinely serves historically marginalized communities, including the BIPOC community, the disabled community, and people with mental illness and behavioral health concerns. We pro-actively work towards building a welcoming environment for all our guests, as well as for staff and volunteers. Our overarching goal is to make sure all feel they belong. Indicative in this work is ensuring our leadership and staff reflect the guests we serve. Our board is racially diverse 50% identify as BIPOC. Their diversity is also reflected in the breadth of knowledge and array of skill sets members bring, including systems thinking, housing, legal, social work, marketing, accounting strategy, and people management skills. Our staff is also 50% BIPOC and led by a woman of color. We prioritize hiring staff with lived experience. We currently have two staff members with lived experience of housing insecurity and behavioral health issues and have previously hired unhoused Norristown residents for appropriate positions.NHC maintains strong, coordinated partnerships to ensure seamless access to resources. Partners include Your Way Home, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, West Norriton VA Clinic, CareerLink, and CADCOM. As a registered COMPASS partner, NHC assists individuals with benefits enrollment. We host twice-monthly legal clinics with Episcopal Legal Aid and Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, offering pro bono support for eviction prevention, public benefits access, wills, record sealing and pardons, medical directives, bankruptcy and debt relief, child custody, divorce, and protections from abuse. Our partnership with Einstein Montgomery Health Care Providers enables monthly no-cost health clinics offering blood pressure screenings, A1C tests, wound care, and first aid. Family Services of Montgomery County provides twice-monthly HIV and STD testing. We also host a monthly opioid recovery clinic with Global Health and Recovery Services, staffed by a nurse practitioner, medical assistant, and therapist to deliver assessment, medical support, therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and referrals. Through One Sight, we refer individuals to LensCrafters for eye exams and glasses. In addition to these on-site services, NHC staff provides information and refers people to a variety of local partners to address their individual needs.