Vincentians

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family
Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family 1198 1198 SVDP USA

Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family 

No family deserves to spend the holidays sharing one mattress on the floor of their apartment.

Josephine Melton-McGovern and Marianne Simpson, two volunteers for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, couldn’t believe what they saw last November when they first stepped inside the apartment of a family of four in Long Island. The room was barren—no furniture in sight, just a single mattress where the mother, father, and their two young children, a two-year-old and a four-month-old, all slept together.

“I saw it as a safety issue, especially for the four-month-old,” said Josephine. “I explained it to the mother, and she was all ears. She understood what I was saying.”

That same day, Josephine and Marianne helped deliver a donated portable crib for the baby. The next day, they stocked the family’s shelves with food and drawers with clothing. Within three days, the family’s apartment was fully furnished with a new mattress, box spring, and frame, along with blankets, sheets, pillows, two dressers, a sofa, end tables, a coffee table, and a kitchen table with chairs.

Two days later, the family also enjoyed a real Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to a turkey and fixings provided by SVdP.

“All [the mother] kept saying was ‘Thank you! Thank you!’ They were so grateful. We were so glad they had a nice Thanksgiving – I was so worried about that.”

As part of their Vincentian charism, Josephine and Marianne serve families like this every day. They know that a lack of bare necessities is the grim reality for many who have lost their homes or are on the brink of homelessness. This family had recently moved out of a shelter and into an apartment—a success story in the minds of many organizations. But they had also lost all their belongings due to a roach infestation.

Marianne and Josephine visited the family as part of a Home Visit Encounter, a core tenet of SVdP’s work. In the Home Visit, Vincentians go in pairs to visit those they serve. In doing so, they are able to assess the family’s situation in a way that many other charitable organizations are not. Because of that Home Visit, Marianne and Josephine were able to discern that the family needed more than just a new mattress.

Michael Bedell, president of the St. Frances Cabrini Conference for SVdP, learned of the Long Island family’s needs from a questionnaire they filled out on the organization’s website. He then gave them a call to get more information and schedule a Home Visit. The family is one of 65 that he and his Conference have administered Home Visits for in the last year.

“We’re calling each family and are basically saying to them, ‘Is there anything we can do for you during the holidays?’” said Michael. “It might be a ham, it could be a toy, it could be anything … but we try to put those touches on people so they can have a good holiday. We also recognize that Christmas can’t end in December. It’s got to go all year round.”

And it does. Every day, SVdP Councils and Conferences all over the globe are helping individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness – through services such as rent and utility assistance, shelters, food pantries, thrift stores, pharmacies and medical clinics, and much more.

For Marianne, the Home Visits particularly hit home.

“I feel so fortunate to help because I’ve been in that situation – I raised five children on my own,” Marianne said. “I know what it’s like to have to reach out, go to the church, go to social services – all of those things. The more people that I can help to not have to go through that, the more it makes me feel good.”

SVdP USA flips the traditional model of a nonprofit in the homelessness services sector. Instead of vulnerable individuals having to go out and seek things like food, clothing, and support, SVdP’s Vincentian volunteers come to them via the Home Visit, providing tangible assistance, a listening ear, and friendship.

Bedell says it’s the instinct of a Vincentian to go out and serve.

“We all do it from our hearts with no expectations,” he said. “But when we give, we also receive back. We all close our eyes at night knowing that we changed a life. There is no better feeling in the world and it is a feeling more people should seek.”

 

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01-16-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
01-16-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

A New Year Call to Hope and Action

My Fellow Vincentians,

As we stand at the beginning of a new year, our hearts may be filled with a mixture of emotions. There’s the excitement of new beginnings, the anticipation of fresh starts, and perhaps a touch of apprehension about the challenges that may lie ahead. But amidst these feelings, one constant remains: the enduring power of hope.

Hope is the belief that even in the face of adversity, goodness and redemption are possible. It is the conviction that we can overcome obstacles, heal divisions, and build a more just and compassionate world.

This hope, however, cannot be a passive hope. It must be a hope that is rooted in action, a hope that translates into tangible efforts to make our world a better place.
This year, SVdP USA will be taking new and stronger action to channel our hopes into concrete actions. With the opening of our second National Office in Washington, DC in February, we will be creating a base for increasing our efforts to advocate on behalf of those we serve, and turning our focus more intensely towards the pressing issues of our time, particularly the scourge of poverty and homelessness that afflicts far too many of our fellow Americans.

The stark reality is that millions of our brothers and sisters struggle to meet their basic needs. They lack access to affordable housing, nutritious food, and quality healthcare. Children go to bed hungry, families are forced to live on the streets, and countless individuals are trapped in a cycle of poverty that seems impossible to break.

This is a crisis of conscience for our nation. It is a stark reminder that our pursuit of individual prosperity cannot come at the expense of the common good. We are called, as followers of Christ, to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

How can we translate our hopes and dreams into meaningful action?

First and foremost, we must open our eyes and our hearts to the suffering around us. We must acknowledge the realities of poverty and homelessness in our own communities. We must listen to the stories of those who are struggling, and we must seek to understand their experiences. In our encounters with those we serve, we must listen with a Servant Heart — not only hearing the facts and numbers associated with the support we give, but hearing their hopes, dreams, and the stories that make them who they are. We cannot help if we do not understand. And we cannot understand if we do not listen.

Secondly, we must challenge the systems and structures that perpetuate poverty. We must advocate for policies that provide affordable housing, living wages, and access to quality education and healthcare for all. We must support organizations that are working to address the root causes of poverty, such as systemic racism and economic inequality. That will be the role of our Washington, DC office and staff. To work with USCCB, Congress, and like-minded nonprofits to drive the change needed to address poverty at its source.

And finally, we must cultivate a spirit of solidarity and collective action. We must recognize that we are all interconnected, and that the well-being of each of us is dependent on the well-being of all. We must work together to build a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The task before us is daunting, but not insurmountable. We cannot solve the problems of poverty and homelessness overnight. But we, each and every one of us, can make a difference. We can be a force for good in the world. We can build a more just and compassionate society, a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of dignity and hope.

Let us, therefore, embrace this new year with renewed hope and a renewed commitment to action. Let us strive to be instruments of God’s love and mercy in the world. Let us work together to build a beloved community where all are welcome, where all are valued, and where all have the opportunity to flourish.

Peace and God’s Blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

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Meet Michael Acaldo, CEO
Meet Michael Acaldo, CEO 2048 2048 SVDP USA

From the Bayou to CEO: Meet Michael Acaldo

MICHAEL ACALDO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL when he applied to lead SVdP Baton Rouge. He was graduating from Louisiana State University and just looking for a job. His father filled him in on the details.

“By some miracle, they decided to give the opportunity to someone with no real experience,” he says. Thirty-four years and 11 months later, it’s safe to say that things worked out well.

What Michael noticed right away was that his experience of knowing very little about SVdP was not uncommon. “The Society has been in Baton Rouge since 1865 . . .but there was not much public branding relative to what they did.”

Michael understood that raising awareness of SVdP was essential — both for raising funds and more importantly, for reaching people in need. “Part of the Vincentian spirit is one of humility. But it’s critical you get the word out because that’s what evangelizes for your organization!” he exclaims. “You rob people of that gift if you’re not open about [your work].”

Over the next few decades, Michael’s mission was to help SVdP Baton Rouge become a leader — in providing hot meals, establishing a comprehensive sheltering program, and working with SVdP Conferences all across the region to prevent homelessness. Under his watch, the Baton Rouge Council was SVdP’s first Council in the country to start a foundation and the first to have a community pharmacy. But he also made it a top priority to make sure that the public knew what SVdP was doing. Michael ran major campaigns with all the local television and radio stations over the years, building a reputation around the region that led to sustained fundraising success.

“WE WERE SO BLESSED TO SERVE CHRIST!” he reflects. “Some days we would serve 500 people in our dining room – that’s an opportunity to serve Christ 500 times. And it’s so uplifting to be a witness to 1,500 volunteers helping those in need each month. Both the Vincentian family and those we were blessed to serve — they both touched my soul and my heart.”

Now as the new CEO of SVdP USA, it’s this heart of Christian service that has kept him grounded. “Humility and spiritual growth are the foundation of everything we do,” he says. “And the more we grow spiritually, the more we realize we have to grow.” With God’s grace, SVdP will surely grow under his careful stewardship.

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January is Poverty Awareness Month
January is Poverty Awareness Month 940 788 SVDP USA

January is Poverty Awareness Month

On the Eighth World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis wrote:

“If prayer does not translate into concrete action, it is in vain; 
indeed, ‘faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.’”

January is Poverty Awareness Month, a time for all people of faith to defend the life and dignity of those living in poverty. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves the poorest among us, not just during Poverty Awareness Month, but every day of the year. We put faith into action, rooted in love for those we serve as we are called to do.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, released on December 27, underscores the crisis of poverty and homelessness facing America. The report found more than 770,000 individuals were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024 — an increase of 18% over last year and an all-time high.

The crisis is growing, and we know that prayer alone is not enough. We are called to recognize those who struggle and to respond with compassion, love, and action. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul brings personalized help to people in crisis, as Vincentian volunteers in more than 4,000 communities across the country provide rental and utility assistance, food, medical care, educational support, and more. There is a transformative power in giving ourselves — our time, our attention, our presence — through these acts of love and service.

Our faith informs who and how we serve, and our service to those living in poverty strengthens our faith. This Poverty Awareness Month, our mission remains unchanged. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is, and forever will be, a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.

– John Berry
National President of SVdP USA

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