St. Vincent de Paul Louisville

Who We Are

Imagine a place where compassion and respect are at the heart of every action. At St. Vincent de Paul Louisville (SVDP), we provide more than just shelter and meals - we offer solutions that give hope for the future. 

Your support allows us to continue our mission to house, feed, and support those in need with compassion and dignity. 

SVDP, 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. 

SVDP operates a community kitchen (Open Hand Kitchen), a client-choice food pantry, Ozanam Inn Men's Emergency Shelter, domestic violence services, three local thrift stores, an enrichment center serving children in after-school and summer programming (Family Success Center), as well as permanent supportive housing for homeless families and adults on campus and in scattered site units in various locations throughout the city. Our inner-city campus has grown to address the varied causes of chronic poverty and homelessness including disability, addiction, and mental health issues. 

We believe in a "Housing First" approach, which acknowledges that people are more likely to have positive health outcomes and reach greater stability if they are housed. This serves as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life. This is guided by the belief that people need necessities, like food and a place to live, before they can focus on getting a job, budgeting properly, or overcoming substance use issues. 

If you want to learn more about how your donations make a difference, read through our latest digital Impact Report at https://st-vincent-de-paul-louisville.yearly.report/impact-report-2022-2023#/-NUMHvCnjfLGeaXjVywD.