In Fiscal Year 2022, 2,446 clients visited the St. John Center Day Shelter and Social Services center 45,046 times – in fact, we welcomed 33% more people this year than last year.

We greeted every client by name, offering a warm welcome. For 36 years, with this simple action, we have worked to promote the dignity and wellbeing of all of those we care for, and those that have cared for us — clients, volunteers, staff, and people who stop by to learn more about who we are and what we do here. This core value put into practice each day is something that has not changed.

And yet, in Fiscal Year 2022, St. John Center the organization saw a lot of change.

The beloved and visionary Maria Price transitioned out of the role of Executive Director and I stepped in late September of 2021. In the few weeks Maria and I were able to spend together, she tried her best to upload decades worth of historical knowledge into my brain. More importantly, she spent the time making sure that I knew the value of our community, the people we serve, and the values that guide us.

The passing of St. John Center’s founding director in January of 2022 was another change for the organization. But by maintaining our commitment to our core values, we also ensure that Sister Mary Kathleen Sheehan’s life and vision continue to guide our work.

Last fiscal year we worked to make the experience of our team members more equitable and sustainable. We welcomed over 100 volunteers back into the building, as we learned more about how to operate safely amidst global pandemic. Together, focused on growing our organizational capacity to meet the growing numbers and needs of people experiencing homelessness in our community.

We know that ending homelessness for good requires affordable and supportive housing. And we see every single day that there simply isn’t enough of that housing to meet the need. Part of the organizational change of the last year has been embarking on a transformative journey to stand in this gap and be a bigger part of the solution.

Across our programs, the Day Shelter, Street Outreach, and Permanent Supportive Housing teams continue to help clients address barriers to housing. They do this by meeting people exactly where they are – and accompanying them on the road home.

While we know that St. John Center will continue to grow and change to meet the needs of the people we serve – the way we serve and the values we employ guide us every day of the journey.

Thank you for being part of those values and part of this work.

Ra’Shann Martin

Executive Director, St. John Center