Our Mission, History and Vision
St. John Center is on a mission to help people experiencing homelessness address the barriers to housing and self-sufficiency so they can leave homelessness for good.
With the support of this community, we’ve been providing resources and services for those experiencing homelessness in the Louisville area since 1986. We are located in a former Catholic church built in the 1850s as a safe haven for immigrants. Today, our staff and volunteers carry on that welcoming spirit to provide refuge to some of our community’s most vulnerable people.
Our vision is a city where all people experiencing homelessness have the resources and support they need to leave homelessness for good.
Join us and become part of the place where those who are on the streets seek help, find hope, and move home by volunteering or supporting our mission.
Our Values
Dignity
We believe in the dignity of every human being. We strive to call each person by name. We recognize that people experiencing homelessness have experienced a high level of trauma, so we strive to be a refuge and a safe haven.
Usefulness
We strive to be a useful space, providing the best possible opportunities for people experiencing homelessness to continue their path toward greater self-sufficiency.
Volunteers
Volunteers are valued as an integral part of St. John Center’s mission.
Partnerships
We value partnerships with other agencies in order to be useful to clients and resourceful with limited space and funds.
Learning
We strive to foster a workplace that supports continuous learning, applying new skills, research, and evidence-based practices to our work.
Housing as a Right
We believe housing is a right.
Advocacy
We operate with the understanding that people rarely experience homelessness because of just one issue or incident, but rather people experience homelessness because of both personal circumstances and systemic issues. We take seriously our role as advocates for those experiencing homelessness and embrace opportunities to educate the community about the causes of, and solutions to, homelessness.
Meet the Team
Street Outreach
Day Shelter and Social Services Center
Permanent Supportive Housing
Administrative
Board of Directors
Smith Rodes
Consultant
Chair
Bob Johnson
Associate Vice President, Humana
Vice Chair
Jeb Jarrell
Wealth Advisor, Plentiful Wealth
Treasurer
Susanne Binford
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Veterans Administration
Monica Cabell
John Desmarais
Retired
Sara Dorman
Kevin Dunlap
Executive Director, REBOUND, Inc.
Gabe Fritz
VP, COO – The Housing Partnership, Inc.
Jon Fairfield
Christina Gaines
Homeless Outreach Worker, Veterans Administration
Julie Ann Goetz
SVP of Human Resources, Aline
Mark Hohmann
Chief Financial Officer, Goodwill Industries
Kristy Inmon
Business Development Director, Miranda Construction
Maria Kroeger
Partner, Frost Brown Todd Attorneys
Brian Mangan
Medical Manager, Anthem
Brandon Rodgers
Retail Operations Manager, Constellation Energy
Treasure Rogers
Spend Management Specialist, Brown-Forman
Doug Scott
Tom Simms
Simms and Schickel Law
Gail Strange
Strategic Communications Consultant
Mike Ward
Ward Campaigns
Aaron Watt
Associate Vice President, Risk Management, Humana
Elena Webb
Jamie Webb
Director of CX, Creative and Marketing, HelloSpoke