The Heart of Hope in Erie's Little Italy
St Pauls Neighborhood Center exists to nourish Erie’s Little Italy neighbors through food, welcoming community spaces, and dignified support that builds connection and opportunity.
Located in the former St. Paul School at West 16th and Walnut Streets, the Neighborhood Center is the third point of Erie’s “Triangle of Hope” — a collaborative initiative designed to address chronic homelessness and strengthen the surrounding neighborhood.
While our partners provide permanent supportive housing, St Pauls Neighborhood Center focuses on what makes housing successful: access to food, job training, life skills, and a place to belong.
Community-based Support
The Triangle of Hope brings together three community assets working collaboratively in Erie’s 16502 zip code to implement a proven Housing First model.
- Washington Square Apartments (BUILD CDC) – Permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless men
- Mercy Center West (Mercy Center for Women) – Housing and wraparound services for men, women, and children in transition
- St Pauls Neighborhood Center (Mazzini Charitable Foundation) – A neighborhood-based community hub supporting both housing partners and the broader Little Italy community
Together, these efforts aim not just to manage homelessness, but to end it through coordinated, evidence-based solutions.
Why This Matters
According to Erie County’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count, 457 people were experiencing homelessness on a single winter night. Many individuals facing homelessness also struggle with mental health challenges and substance use disorders.
Research shows that Housing First models significantly reduce homelessness and improve stability.
But housing alone is not enough. Access to food, employment pathways, healthcare, and community connection are critical to long-term success.
St Pauls Neighborhood Center provides that essential support structure — helping transform housing into stability, and stability into opportunity.
The Triangle of Hope
The Mazzini Charitable Foundation is actively partnering with the Mercy Center for Women and Build CDC in a collaboration called “The Triangle of Hope,” to address the difficulty of homelessness in Erie. The Washington School, Sacred Heart, and Saint Paul projects are not just about restoring and repurposing buildings. They are about restoring dignity, fostering community connections, and transforming lives. And when finished, they will represent what can happen when organizations come together with a shared vision and commitment to the common good.