St. Vincent de Paul Louisville, a lay Catholic organization, serves individuals and families in need including those who are homeless, living in poverty, suffering from addiction, enduring mental illness or experiencing acute economic crisis. Founded in 1853, SVDP offers a continuum of care that includes food, shelter, affordable housing, counseling, quality out-of-school time programs for at-risk youth, and emergency financial assistance with rent and utility bills. Our organization assists people, regardless of their background or faith, with the goal of helping each person achieve self-sufficiency.
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville operates a community kitchen (Open Hand Kitchen), a client-choice food pantry, Ozanam Inn men’s emergency overnight shelter, domestic violence services, three local thrift stores, an enrichment center serving at-risk youth in an after-school setting (Family Success Center), as well as supportive housing for homeless families and adults. Our downtown campus has grown to address the varied causes of chronic poverty and homelessness including disability, addiction, and mental illness.
We provide shelter and permanent housing for up to 600 individuals including families both on campus and in scattered-site housing.
Mission
We house, feed, and support those in need with compassion and dignity.
Vision
We strive to build a community where opportunity and hope are available to all.
Values
- Respect – We respect the dignity and worth of all people
- Relationships + Engagement – We promote family, community, and participation
- Human Potential – We offer resources and opportunity for personal growth
- Accountability – We promote personal engagement and responsibility
- Collaboration – We partner with community to address unmet needs
- Spiritual Growth – We see Christ in those we serve, and lead by our Faith
- Equity – We strive to build an equitable environment for our clients, staff, donors, and community partners
By the Numbers (2022 Outcomes)
Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing (All scattered site, all on-campus apartments, except Tranquil House)
- 508 people were served, 110 families and 138 individuals.
- 228 of these people were children.
- 83% of the exits were positive.
Ozanam Inn Emergency Shelter
- 348 men served in 2022.
- 56 men exited to stable housing.
VA Program
- 43 men have been served.
- 64% of men served have exited to permanent housing.
Feeding
Open Hand Kitchen
- Our Open Hand Kitchen served meals two times a day for a monthly average of more than 8,400 meals.
Food Pantry
- Our volunteer-run Food Pantry averaged more than 650 households monthly.
Supporting
Family Success Center
- 39 students registered for the after school program. The average attendance was 16.
- 48% of students have improved their site word skills in reading.
- 75% of students are now reading at grade level. (Our goal is to be at 90% by
- the end of the 2022-23 school year.)
- 100% of students have demonstrated increased STEM skills and knowledge.
- 71% of students have shown improvements in their grades. (Our goal is to be at 75% by the end of the 2022-23 school year.)
- During the summer program,
- 55 children registered for our summer camp and 26 of those children were new to our programs
- 96% participated in all that was offered during the summer program
