Camillus House: One Act of Faith Gives Birth to a Thriving Ministry of Hope It started in 1960 with a small act of kindness. Brother Mathias Barrett gave a hungry, newly arrived Cuban exile a bowl of corn flakes and milk. That simple act of mercy and kindness – a response to Matthew 25:35, “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat…” – marked the beginning of Camillus House. In the more than six decades since, this ministry has flourished, bringing hope, healing, community and dignity to hundreds of thousands in need. Camillus House is not only a powerful force for good in Miami-Dade County, but a nationally respected leader in the fight against homelessness across the country. Today, as the largest and one of the oldest service providers caring for the homeless in South Florida, Camillus still serves more than 1,000 meals a day to the hungry. But that’s only the beginning. If fact, Camillus House is now the most broad-based homeless services provider in our community, helping the poor and vulnerable not only with food and shelter, but with clothing, medical assistance, job-training, counseling, and other tools that help rebuild broken lives. In addition, we continue progressing toward our long-term goal of ending chronic homelessness in Miami. In all our efforts, the legacy of compassion, kindness, and hospitality that marked our work from its quiet start – feeding one hungry individual – remains. At Camillus House, we open doors. Thank you for joining us in giving people the power to unlock life’s next chapter. For more information, please contact our Vice President of Development Christine Perez at development@camillus.org or call 305-374-1065.