St. Luke's Shelter

We help men journey out of homelessness through providing transitional shelter, nourishment, case management and recovery support.

Why do we exist?

What have you accomplished?

St. Luke’s Shelter’s programs are intentionally small to facilitate building trusting relationships with shelter residents and kitchen students and to give these men and women as much personalized support as possible.  

Since 1991, the staff, partner caseworkers, and committed volunteers have helped more than 350 men on their journey from the street to a better life.  Each year one-third of our transitional shelter residents move into more permanent housing.   Since 2004, Next Step Kitchen has celebrated the graduation of 15 students, fifteen percent of whom have gone on to find and secure a higher-living wage within the foodservice industry. 

A brief story about someone we’ve helped is the story of “James,” who was struck hard by schizophrenia in 1998. After loosing his job and his connection with his family, “James” became homeless and lived on the streets for three years. One winter, freezing, starving, and very ill, he found his way to the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place, who referred him to our transitional shelter program. Through the work of our shelter staff and CCH/FP caseworkers, we were able to help “James” recover his physical and mental health, to reunite with his family in Pennsylvania, and to secure his own apartment near where his family lives.  As “James” said to us during his recent visit to DC, “I could not have gone straight from the street to my own apartment. I needed the transition time that St. Luke’s gave me. They gave me a home where I felt safe, good meals, hot showers, clean clothes, and encouraging talks that helped me turn my life around.” Today, “James” is quite independent, and is grateful for being healthy enough to have his own apartment and to work part-time.

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