Our History
What began as a charitable effort by First Presbyterian Church in 1986 eventually blossomed into The Kearney Center as it is known today. Ending homelessness has always been and will continue to be a community effort. We are grateful for all the compassionate people who have helped us become a comprehensive service center for people experiencing homelessness.
Origins of the Tallahassee Cold Night Shelter
Several men froze to death on Tallahassee’s streets in 1986, prompting First Presbyterian Church to open a makeshift overnight shelter in its basement for a few dozen men seeking refuge from the cold. The group operating at First Presbyterian became known as Tallahassee Cold Night Shelter.
New Home on West Tennessee St.
The Shelter became incorporated and registered as a non-profit agency, and in 1991, moved to a new home on West Tennessee Street.
Expansion and Growth
The Shelter experienced tremendous growth and expanded its services to meet diverse client needs. Two major expansions of the shelter were the food program (comprised of community volunteers, churches, and civic groups preparing meals) and the onsite medical clinic. Although the Shelter could provide individuals with overnight shelter and three meals per day, it did not have the capacity to offer daytime support services.
More than a Shelter
To address the need for supportive daytime services, a small adjacent warehouse was transformed into the Renaissance Community Center (RCC), accommodating clients needing social, physical, mental, and educational support services. The Shelter and the RCC served the same population and shared many mutual clients, but due to the high volume of clients, the RCC quickly outgrew its facility.
Recognizing the need for a new emergency shelter, the Shelter and RCC agreed to locate their combined operations within a new facility. In April 2015, the two agencies officially merged with the grand opening of The Kearney Center. The center provides comprehensive emergency services in the same physical space, a new model in Tallahassee, and partners with community organizations to offer a host of programs, experiencing growth each month.
Continuing Growth and Community Support
The Kearney Center has continued to expand its programs and services, serving over 12,582 individuals in our community since 2015. Join us in our mission to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring!