Vincentians

  • No Comments
  • No Likes

Devastating Wildfires Heighten Importance of Homelessness Prevention in California
Devastating Wildfires Heighten Importance of Homelessness Prevention in California 2048 1536 SVDP USA
by David Garcia, Executive Director, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles

The recent wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles and its neighboring communities bring the threat of homelessness ever closer to countless doorsteps.

I’m not just talking about the tens of thousands of people that have been displaced due to the fires, many of whom face the awful challenge of finding a place to live and rebuilding their lives after their home was destroyed. All sorts of establishments have also been destroyed — offices and shops, restaurants and schools, parks and recreation centers. According to Morgan Stanley, an estimated 20,000-40,000 jobs have been lost from the fires — another devastating and long-term impact. For many Californians, this job loss and profound disruption pushes them closer to the brink of homelessness. Effective, preventative intervention needs to happen now — before it’s too late.

Make no mistake: Even before the fires, California residents have been struggling. The average median rent in California is already $2,763 — 38% higher than the national average, according to Zillow — and that was before the housing supply in Los Angeles took a catastrophic hit. Many Californians need to find a new job, a new home, or both – when they were already struggling to keep up with rent and feed their families. That situation puts far too many California families far too close to the edge of homelessness.

Responding to this situation effectively means responding to it proactively. While many homelessness services organizations focus on what happens after someone becomes homeless, homelessness prevention is at once far more effective and humane. It involves identifying and supporting people who are on the verge of losing their homes – assessing their underlying threats to homelessness and taking preventative measures that will keep them housed.

This is our approach at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We administer Home Visits to those seeking assistance to meet them where they are and learn the best ways, tailored to their specific situation, to help keep them in stable housing and off the streets.

Since the fires broke out, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences in the neighborhoods that were affected by the fires have been tirelessly active in addressing the critical needs of their communities. Conferences and the Los Angeles Council have hosted fire relief distributions. Items given out include shoes, clothing, food, water, towels, pet supplies, and baby essentials. In addition, gift cards were distributed, and immediate financial assistance was offered. We continue to work with the fire victims once they move into new housing by providing move-in assistance and home furnishings through St. Vincent de Paul’s National Disaster Services Corp’s House in a Box program.

New research indicates how well these preventive measures work. According to a recent study conducted by Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), persons who received an average of $2,000 in emergency financial assistance were 81% less likely to become homeless within six months of enrollment and 73% less likely within 12 months.

The state of California has spent $24 billion on homelessness in the past five years. Granting that much of that money is well spent, consider how acute the crisis remains. How much farther could that spending go if we invested some of it in preventing homelessness rather than ameliorating its worst effects? As we look to help those who lost their livelihoods in the fires, it’s time to find out just how effective prevention can be. I am confident it will alleviate a much higher long-term housing crisis in the future.

Homelessness isn’t going away in California. The aftermath of the wildfires in Los Angeles is a stark reminder of that. There is a pressing need to step in and intervene now, before the demand for affordable housing becomes too great and more families are forced out of their homes. By turning our attention to prevention, we can work together to stop the future scourge of homelessness in Los Angeles.

  • 9 Comments
  • No Likes

02-27-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
02-27-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

I still remember my mother’s favorite prayer, “God grant me patience…. And grant it to me right now!”

My mom needed to have a lot of patience in her life. My father had passed away at the age of 33 from an aggressive form of lung cancer, leaving my 29-year-old mother with four children under the age of 7. I would like to say that us children were models of good behavior…but that was not always the case. We were normal, rambunctious children with typical sibling rivalries and behaviors. Our mother showed us immense love, grace, and patience, even as she was struggling with raising a family without her husband.

My mother loved us, raised us with expectations for leading a good life and grounded us in our Catholic faith. My mother was the role model for my faith journey. I have memories as a child of seeing her kneel at her bedside saying her nighttime prayers after a long day of chasing her children. Although things were difficult, she relied on her faith to guide her through the ups and downs of her life. She was patient and let God’s plan for her life unfold over time.

I would like to say that I inherited my mother’s virtue of patience — but regrettably, I did not. Too often I have found myself to be impatient about delays, mix-ups, long lines, or computer glitches. I show little patience for people who are late to appointments, tardy in getting assignments done, or meeting obligations either large or small.

We live in a technologically advanced society where we travel across the country in hours, talk directly to people around the globe in seconds, and have packages arrive at our doorstep from around the world within a day or two from ordering them online. We are irritated at the slightest delay in traffic. We are short on patience and short on grace.

In the last few years, with the help of prayers, spiritual reflection, and the guidance and example of my fellow Vincentians, I have started to work on my sin of impatience, albeit slowly. Being a Vincentian has taught me that God reveals His plan on His time and at His pace. We cannot and do not change the world. Only God possesses that Power of Change. It is up to us to be patient and listen to God through our prayers and our interactions with our neighbors in need. As Vincentians, we can get overwhelmed by the sheer number of neighbors in need or by the finite limit of our resources. We must be patient and know that God is always present, and His plan is unfolding as He wills.

As I look back at the difficult times throughout my life, I realize that God always answered my prayers — not on my timeline or my wants, but on His timeline and what I truly needed. In all cases, God’s plan and timing was exactly what I needed in my life.

Our Vincentian vocation calls us to a deeper relationship with God through our service to our neighbors. We realize that when we do His work as He commanded us, we supply the effort — but it is God who supplies the result. As we go about our mission as Vincentians, let us show patience to the people we serve, patience with the slow process of change, patience to our fellow Vincentians and finally, patience to ourselves. After all, we all are works in progress. God is not finished with working miracles in our lives or in the world!

Yours in Christ,
Chuck Korte
National Vice President, Midwest Region

  • 8 Comments
  • No Likes

02-20-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
02-20-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

VisionSVdP — What’s Next?

You might be wondering what happened to VisionSVdP. There was a lot of activity and hoopla around it for much of 2024, but recently, things have been pretty quiet, right? Well, I’m going to update you where we are, where we’re going, and make you a promise — it’s not going to be quiet for very long.

Let me start by saying that Phase I of VisionSVdP was a grand slam home run success! We had an incredible outpouring of thoughts and ideas and comments from across the country. From small Conferences to large Councils, people participated and were excited to share their thoughts about the Society. It was great to see.

And from that, we received a lot of comments. I mean a lot of comments! So a good deal of time has been spent entering them into our database at the National Office. Comments are being entered as written, with no editing. Once that is completed later this month, the data gurus will start to “do that voodoo that they do” so well. (Bonus points if you can name the movie that line came from!) They will sort, categorize, rank order, and do all kinds of other things with the data.

At the Midyear Meeting the first week in March, I will present an overview of what we heard. You will get that overview both by email and in Frédéric’s Five. You will also receive a link so you can look at every single comment made — unfiltered, unedited.

Then the fun starts. We’re going to look at everything and see what jumps out at us. What did a lot of people comment about? What did they think we really needed to fix, to add, to subtract, to change, to enhance? What did the thousands of Vincentian voices of SVdP USA have to say?

And then we’ll choose a manageable number of themes and get down to work. Or I should say…you will get down to work. Because you are going to tell us what we need to do.

We’ll identify the areas — for example, let’s say there are seven of them. Then we’ll create working groups — all over. At Conferences, at Councils, at Special Works…wherever it makes sense, and wherever a group of Vincentians wants to work on the subject. And you can volunteer for the group that is tackling the subject for which you have the greatest passion or interest. You can even join two if you want! (But the cutoff is two working groups per person.)

The working groups will meet as often as they feel is necessary, and then in late Fall, we will ask ALL Councils to hold a one- or two-day gathering to bring all these working groups together and develop a set of Recommendations for Action.

At that time, Councils will also elect two representatives (who CANNOT be the Council President) to represent the Council at a National Congress to be held in January 2026.

At that National Congress, the elected representatives will spend three days developing a National VisionSVdP Action Plan, which will provide us with specific plans for implementing what has come out of VisionSVdP.

There will be a lot more detail as we get further along, but that’s how it will work. It’s going to be a blast!

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

  • 4 Comments
  • 1 Like

02-13-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
02-13-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Focusing on Christ

A couple of months ago, I celebrated my 35th anniversary of being a part of our Vincentian family. Thirty-five years of blessings and an opportunity to learn and grow from the wisdom of Vincentians. I also just celebrated my five-month anniversary as your National CEO, and wow, have I learned a lot!

As Vincentians, we are called to be like a sponge, absorbing knowledge and spiritual growth from our brother and sister Vincentians. I began my Vincentian journey as a 22-year-old. I did not know much then — and I quickly learned, the more wisdom that was shared with me, the more I realized that I had to learn.

Older and wiser Vincentians taught me never to go to a gathering or meeting with my mind already made up on a particular matter but instead, arrive at the meeting with the desire to listen and discern the best solution.

As many of you know, Sam Pettway, founder of Boardwalk Consulting, is the recruiter who led the recent nationwide SVdP CEO search. After Sam reached out and asked me if I had any interest in the role, he asked me to describe myself. I told Sam that I consider myself a student of life, with the desire to keep on learning and growing. For me, the most attractive thing about our Society is our mission that calls us to grow together spiritually and in friendship so that we can serve Christ — our neighbor in need.

We have all heard the saying that if you have seen one St. Vincent de Paul Conference or Council, you have only seen one. We have such a strong and diverse way of focusing on serving Christ. This is what makes us special.

In the first Beatitude, when Christ says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” He is talking to us! He is asking each of us to recognize our spiritual poverty and our need to grow closer to Him.

St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and Blessed Rosalie Rendu serve as examples for us all to emulate. They lived in times far more difficult than what we face today. They saw challenges as opportunities to live their faith and keep their focus on Christ.

We should not put our faith into anyone or anything except Christ — we can count on Him, and He is counting on us! In a world where many are searching for Jesus, we have found Him in those we visit, comfort, and provide hope to in the most challenging times. How blessed we are to know that we are on a constant journey to serve Christ and grow closer to Him. There are so many in the world who don’t even know they should search and find Christ. We must keep them in our prayers.

The Lenten Season is just a few weeks away, and it will be a wonderful time to reflect on our virtues of Simplicity, Humility, Gentleness, Selflessness, and Zeal. We are called to be that bright light of Christ in the world, and to share the gift of the Society with others so they can live their faith in a Vincentian Way!

Thank you all for sharing the priceless gift of yourself with the Society and those we are blessed to serve!

Best wishes in Christ,
Michael J. Acaldo
National CEO

  • No Comments
  • No Likes

Loving Our Homeless Men: We Have Succeeded and Failed
Loving Our Homeless Men: We Have Succeeded and Failed 2560 1707 SVDP USA
by Michael Vanderburgh, Executive Director, Dayton District Council

Dayton, Ohio is nationally known for a lot of things: invention, innovation, military heft, a massive water supply — and the largest homeless shelters anyone has ever seen.

For the past 40 years, we have succeeded in providing shelter, food, and clothing. But we have also failed. We have failed to solve homelessness.

Sure, I can tell you success stories of individuals who have triumphed over adversity out of homelessness. Some of them work with me at SVdP Dayton. But the City of Dayton and Montgomery County are beset with stories of suffering met by a ballooning human services industrial complex, growing since the Great Society, launched in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson. No program, and no amount of money spent, addresses the root cause of chronic homelessness: ruptured relationships in a culture that does not encourage us to love one another.

In 1984 there was an evident need in Dayton for emergency shelter. SVdP sometimes allowed men to stay the night in our downtown thrift store during extreme weather. Led by Tony Staub and Jim Butler, we came up with the idea of a “hotel” for homeless men. The City of Dayton formed a committee, and in 1985 a former fire station at 212 W. Fifth Street was designated. Many Dayton residents were against the project, but as then-City Commissioner Pat Roach said, “If we don’t have [St. Vincent de Paul] doing this, we’ll end up having to do it ourselves.”

On December 15, 1985, SVdP Dayton began its focused ministry of emergency shelter for men, which was later expanded to include women and children.

That first year, we sheltered an average of 60 people per night at a cost of $300,000 for the year. Only 1% of that $300,000 came from the government — 99% was from private funding. Within a few years, shelter was already operating at or near capacity.

In July 2005, SVdP Dayton closed the Fifth Street shelter and opened the Midtown Apple Street shelter out of a former furniture warehouse location. In December 2009, pressure from Midtown neighbors led SVdP Dayton to open the Gettysburg Shelter for Men in the long-shuttered City of Dayton prison (euphemistically known as The Workhouse). It sits on Prison Road, surrounded by prisons, near Dayton’s Waste Management Landfill and wastewater treatment plant — not a place any person can reasonably expect to heal, recover, or feel valued as a human being.

Recently, SVdP Dayton announced that we will cease operating the Gettysburg Shelter on June 30, 2025, a decision driven by the reality that we can no longer afford it. But the hard truth is that our homeless men deserve a better environment of care.

In 40 years, our sheltered homeless population has increased nearly 1,000%, and our costs to serve them have increased over 2,200%, even though the overall population of Montgomery County has decreased over that time.

The good news is that for the past 15 years we have always had “room at the inn” for our homeless brothers and sisters; we have managed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter everyone from frigid wind and searing heat. The bad news is that all these years we have been alleviating symptoms of an ever-growing problem without addressing its primary causes: separation, division, resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, selfishness.

Yes, the choices that you and I make in pursuit of our own pleasure and individual desires are the same choices others struggle to manage to the point of homelessness.

What can you and I do? We need to love one another at some basic level. A level that shows dignity for each other, respect for humanity as a social enterprise, and honor for the social fabric that makes us human — not objects of each other’s desires. Listen to a chronically homeless person, and you will hear a story of unwillingness or inability to love relatives and friends through suffering, theirs and ours.

Show up. Love your family members. Accompany them through their sufferings, and yours. Reconcile. Kindly acknowledge a stranger. And join with nearly 90,000 Americans in more than 4,000 communities who are part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to love your homeless neighbors. Love one another.

  • 99 Comments
  • 1 Like

02-06-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
02-06-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Very unsettling news that became public this week has sent a shockwave through the Catholic charitable community. As it impacts one the largest and most important Catholic international aid organizations, it demands reflection and a realization of how policy that might appear to address one issue can have devastating impact on innocents.

Catholic Relief Services, CRS, is bracing for massive cuts — as much as 50% this year — because of draconian reductions in U.S. foreign assistance ordered by the new administration.

CRS is the top recipient of funds for foreign aid to support people in need around the world, aid which the administration has targeted with a spending freeze. Layoffs have already begun, as CRS has been forced to begin shutting down programs, as close to half of the organization’s $1.5 billion budget has been slashed. The cuts would amount to one of the biggest blows ever to CRS, founded in 1943 by Catholic bishops in the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. CRS reaches more than 200 million people in 121 countries on five continents.

This is a tragic outcome for people around the world who rely on CRS and others who believe in the call of Christ to ‘love your neighbor’ for survival. It is important that we pray for our sisters and brothers at CRS who are doing God’s work as they go through this turmoil, that we pray for the innocents who will suffer because of these actions, and for an understanding by policymakers of the universal impact of their actions and a consideration of all impacted by those actions before they are taken.

This is not about politics. Politicians get elected and they have a right to enact the policies that they ran on and were elected on. No, this is about morality and doing what is right. This is about not cutting off your head because you have a cold. This is about not blowing up your house because your sink leaks. This is about thinking about the impact of your actions before you take them.

There is no excuse for making the poor, the hungry, the homeless, and the sick suffer while you ‘study’ the massive expenditures of the federal government. If there is waste, identify where, and cut it. You’ll be applauded. Don’t shut down vital lifesaving aid to millions while you look — people die that way. Look first, act second.

This is about the fact that we, as Christians, believe that caring for the poor, the homeless, the sick, and the elderly is not just a moral duty. It’s a divine mandate from God and Jesus. This obligation is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bible and the example set by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.

The Bible is replete with verses that emphasize the importance of helping those in need. In the Old Testament, God commands His people to care for the less fortunate. For instance, in Deuteronomy 15:11, it is written, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'” This verse highlights the perpetual presence of poverty and the continuous need for generosity and compassion.

The teachings of Jesus in the New Testament further reinforce this obligation. Jesus’ ministry was marked by His compassion for the marginalized and the suffering. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus speaks about the final judgment and identifies Himself with the needy. We know that this passage underscores the idea that serving the needy is equivalent to serving Christ Himself.

Moreover, the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) illustrates the call to love and care for others, regardless of their background or circumstances. The Samaritan’s actions demonstrate that true neighborly love transcends social and ethnic boundaries and is characterized by mercy and compassion.

The early Christian community also exemplified this mandate. In Acts 2:44-45, it is recorded that “all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” This communal sharing and support for the needy were foundational to the early Church’s identity and mission.

So too do Governments have a fundamental obligation to support those in need during policy making. This responsibility is rooted in the principles of life, liberty, justice, and the common good. Effective governance requires that policies are designed to uplift the most vulnerable members of society, ensuring that everyone has access to basic necessities and opportunities for a better life.

Historically, U.S. governmental entities (both Republican and Democratic) have reached out to Catholic organizations in order to deliver social services more effectively and efficiently. America has a profound moral obligation to support those in need, both domestically and globally. This responsibility stems from the nation’s values of justice, compassion, and leadership. As a global leader, the United States has the capacity and resources to make a significant impact on alleviating suffering worldwide.

Moreover, America’s history of humanitarian aid reflects its commitment to global welfare. The Marshall Plan, for instance, helped rebuild Europe after World War II, demonstrating the nation’s dedication to fostering stability and prosperity beyond its borders. By supporting those in need globally, America not only fulfills its moral obligations but also promotes peace, stability, and goodwill. This approach fosters international cooperation and strengthens global partnerships, ultimately contributing to a more just and peaceful world.

In summary, Christians are called to care for the poor, the homeless, the sick, and the elderly as a reflection of God’s love and compassion. This mandate is not merely a suggestion, but a fundamental aspect of Christian discipleship, rooted in the teachings of the Bible and the example of Jesus Christ. By serving those in need, Christians fulfill their divine obligation and embody the love of Christ in the world.

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
SVdP National President

  • 7 Comments
  • No Likes

Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA President John Berry Statement on Federal Funding Freeze
Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA President John Berry Statement on Federal Funding Freeze 1920 1920 SVDP USA
By John Berry, National President, SVdP USA

While a federal judge has temporarily blocked a White House move to freeze federal grants and loans, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul USA (SVdP) remains deeply concerned about the impact this action could have on the most vulnerable of our population.

SVdP acknowledges and respects the right of the President and his Administration to implement policies that he campaigned on, but at the same time, millions of low-income Americans depend on federal assistance for rent, food and other assistance to stave off poverty and homelessness. Even a temporary disruption to this funding will likely result in hardworking people being forced out of their homes at a time when homelessness across the country is already on the rise.

As one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated to preventing homelessness, SVdP urges the White House to take a more discerning and equitable approach to ensure that vulnerable families remain housed. We also call on the Administration to recognize that high rates of poverty and homelessness are unacceptable and represent a crisis of conscience for our nation.

We can debate policies, but first we must open our eyes and hearts to the suffering around us and then change the systems that perpetuate poverty by advocating for affordable housing, living wages and access to quality education and healthcare. Therefore, we ask the Administration to immediately lift the freeze on funding and begin good faith discussions to determine how their goals can be achieved without creating greater suffering among the innocent, whose lives rely on the support of these government programs.

  • 19 Comments
  • No Likes

01-23-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
01-23-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

We’re More Than You Think

Do you recall why you joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul? Most likely, you wanted to do good works as a “volunteer” — in the food pantry, thrift store, shelter, Home Visit, etc. — and be of service to those in need. It most likely wasn’t that you were looking for a faith-sharing group.

Why have you remained a Vincentian? Of course, it feels good to be of service to those in need. But the need is (always) so great, and we cannot “solve” everyone’s problems — so why do we continue? If you have been a Vincentian for any length of time, I suspect you know the answer: It is because, by the grace of God, that we are able to grow in holiness, in our Vincentian spirituality. How? By the transformative experience of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, the suffering servant, in those we serve. Being a Vincentian is indeed a calling (by Christ) and it is our vocation.

So, my Vincentian brothers and sisters, the Society of St Vincent de Paul is more than you think. We are not just another agency doing good works — rather, we are Vincentians following a call to (our own) holiness and our own spiritual growth. It is through that growth and orienting ourselves to God that the Holy Spirit works through all of us in service to those in need, making a difference in their lives and ours. In effect, we become missionaries, bringing the Gospel of Christ to someone via a simple act of love. There is no other organization like us!

I would also argue that by emptying ourselves (our egos) and allowing the Holy Spirit inside us, discerning God’s will to guide our lives, can only lead to our own personal growth and transformation. This is no “one-and-done” growth, but rather, an ongoing transformation every day of our lives. Once again, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers us a perfect mechanism to do this on a regular basis. As Tim Williams wrote in a recent Contemplation column, this “Discernment of God’s will, then, is not a single event; a flash of insight that tells us every step to take for the rest of our lives.”

Blessed Frédéric put it this way: “It is not enough to take a superficial glance, you need repeated reflection.”

This “repeated reflection” can occur when we regularly meet Jesus in those we serve. Think about every person’s encounter with Jesus in the Gospel — from Simon Peter, Matthew, and all the Apostles, to the leper, the blind, the hemorrhaging woman who but touched the tassel of the cloak of Jesus and so was healed, and all the rest. With the eyes of faith, each of them was changed/transformed after that personal encounter with Christ. After our personal encounters with those in need, so it must be for us — we are continually transformed and, ultimately the results come not from anything we do on our own, but rather via God working through us.

This a cornerstone of our Vincentian charism — when we open ourselves to personal encounters with those in need, we are changed. We have a conversion of heart. We are able to go beyond our limits — we are transformed. We thus can “See the face of Christ and Be the face of Christ.” We do this in friendship and fellowship with our Vincentian brothers and sisters, serving God in the person of those in need, growing in holiness together. So we become more than an agency or people just giving away food or serving at shelters — we begin to see differently, and to experience Christ directly in service to those in need. Thank God for them!

Richard Rohr puts it this way: “Christ is the light that allows people to see things in their fullness and thus to see Christ everywhere else. In fact, a mature Christian sees Christ in everything and everyone else, which will always demand more of us, and give us no reasons to fight, exclude or reject anyone.”

And, of course, Vincent recognized this when he said “the poor are our masters.”

It is my prayer that you focus on the graces you have received from this beautiful Vincentian vocation, and I hope you invite others to personally experience these graces. You may doubt your “worthiness” or your ability to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Remember what Jesus said, “It was not you who chose Me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name he may give you.” Echoing the words of Fr. Pat McDevitt, C.M. from a recent retreat, I say to you: My fellow Vincentians — you are special, you are chosen, you are loved, and you are sent. That is enough!

I am confident that if you and I but remember that this unearned grace — the good news of the Gospel in our lives — is enough, then Christ will work through us and be well-pleased with us, his simple and humble servants.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.

Brian

Brian Burgess
Board Liaison to National Subsidiaries

Enter your
text here
Skip to content