Our History

Founded in 1985, Malachi Center was created to extend the outreach of St. Malachi Church by providing programs and services that meet the basic needs of individuals and families on Cleveland’s Near West Side. Our mission is to empower individuals, nurture families, and build community.

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, Malachi Center continues to serve as a trusted resource and safe-haven where homeless individuals and low-income families and their children can access resources, strengthen resilience, and take positive steps toward stability.

Malachi Center serves hundreds of residents annually, including unhoused individuals and families living below the poverty line in surrounding neighborhoods, including Lakeview Estates. Our programs are designed to meet immediate needs while fostering long-term self-sufficiency. Key programs include:

• Homeless Outreach and Shower Program, offering dignity and connection to resources for those experiencing homelessness;
• After-School Youth Program, providing a safe, supportive space for children to learn and grow;
• Family Nights and Parent Support Activities, strengthening family bonds through shared experiences;
• Produce Distribution and Basic Needs Assistance, addressing food insecurity; and
• Housing and Resource Navigation, connecting individuals and families to community services and stable housing.

Located on the corner of Superior Viaduct and West 25th St, St. Malachi Catholic Church was organized in 1865 to serve Ohio City’s residents. In the 1960s and ‘70s, there was an inward migration of the working poor to Cleveland’s Near Westside. The neighborhood was frequented by the homeless, hungry and impoverished. Fr. Hritz joined St. Malachi as an assistant pastor in 1967 and became the pastor in 1973. During his time there, he brought hundreds of worshippers far beyond the boundaries of the parish. Fr. Hritz saw the poverty surrounding the church and equipped parishioners for service and The Community of St. Malachi was born.

As volunteers expanded services like Monday Night Meals and Backdoor Ministry, they soon encountered another problem: the church simply was not equipped to accommodate the need. They found the answer to their problem in an abandoned truck depot at 2416 Superior Viaduct, east of the church parking lot. The church purchased the building. 

Volunteers spent hours on repairs and renovations. In 1985, St. Malachi Church formalized its commitment to the community by founding the St. Malachi Center for those in need. In the years since, the services provided in the old truck depot have grown to encompass programming to serve individuals, children and families dealing with the impacts of poverty and structural inequality. Malachi Center’s youth programs, serving grades K through 8, includes After-School Programming and family-focused events. Malachi Center’s programming for men and women who are homeless and marginalized centers around the Homeless Shower program, free laundry services, housing assistance and additional resources. 

Special thanks to Peter Toomey, Nancy Saegel, and Kay Vine for this historical content.