Mission

The mission of the Cooperative Downtown Ministries, Inc. (the corporation) is to provide to homeless men, ages 18 and older, in the Birmingham Area a nurturing and caring environment offering supportive services that break the cycle of homelessness and empower individuals to achieve their highest potential.

The Firehouse operates the largest day shelter for homeless men in Birmingham. The day shelter provides access to laundry services, showers, toilets, lockers, toiletries, and a meal program where public meals are served up to four times a day. We network with other agencies to offer AIDS awareness workshops, health clinics, health screenings, GED courses, literacy and educational classes, computer training, life skills workshops, employment counseling, employment readiness workshops, housing counseling, health care counseling, job placement opportunities, and substance abuse counseling. We offer drop in ready classes open to all homeless, and our TEAM program provides support to men waiting for rehab beds.
In addition to the emergency shelter and the services within, The Firehouse has other programs and sites, including Nashamah, a 59 bed transitional housing program designed to assist our clients with their transition into permanent housing; Safe Haven, a 24 bed specialized permanent supportive housing site designed for individuals with a severe mental illness; the Phoenix Project/ PSH, a 62 bed permanent supportive housing in Centerpoint; and CDM apartments (20 beds) which offer affordable housing for men and women. Each of these programs has case managers, access to transportation, a gamut of supportive services, and access to Bible studies and addiction support groups. All housing is based on the Housing First Model, which is structured to keep the chronically homeless housed more effectively by lowering barriers.