Called to Serve
Founded in 1986, St. John Center is an emergency day shelter and social services center for homeless men. Housed in a former Catholic church built in the 1850’s as a safe haven for immigrants following Bloody Monday, the agency still serves as sanctuary today for those who often have no place else to go.
We typically see 220 different men each year who visit nearly 62,000 times. That is an average of almost 170 men a day seeking help.
Success at the end of the day is different for every one of our clients.
- For Paul, success is having a safe place to be where he is not ridiculed for his appearance or for talking with the voices none of the rest of us hear.
- For Philip, it was getting into the drug and alcohol recovery program we coordinate with St. Vincent de Paul and PhoenixHealthCenter and arresting a 20 year addiction that kept him in a state of crisis.
- For Brian, it was moving into a humble apartment of his own and accepting the help of our social work staff so he won’t cycle back to the streets.
St. JohnCenter helps homeless men meet immediate needs but also take steps to create lasting change in their lives. It all starts when they come through the front door seeking help; they find hope, and move forward.