Homelessness Prevention

Over half a million Americans experience homelessness every year

Cost of living increases and inflation are pushing many families over the brink. In 2023 alone, 653,000 Americans experienced homeless. But there’s good news lining these dark clouds: communities see a major decrease in homelessness when they invest in homelessness PREVENTION programs.

Treating homelessness is costly — preventing homelessness isn’t.

It costs an average of $35,578 per year to support a person who is chronically homeless, including costs for emergency shelters, healthcare, and law enforcement. In contrast, preventing homelessness permanently through early intervention costs, on average, $2,000.

We bring personalized help to people in crisis.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is spearheading a nationwide movement to prevent homelessness. In cities across the United States, SVdP Councils and Conferences bring help and hope to the unhoused in our communities through rental and utility assistance, food pantries, charitable pharmacies, day centers, transitional housing for disabled and veteran persons, and more.

More and more single-parent families stand on the brink of homelessness. One car wreck, hospital stay, or layoff can dislodge a family from a home and put them out on the streets.

$60 Million of assistance provided

In 2023, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul mobilized $60 million in emergency financial assistance to prevent evictions and keep people housed. Every dollar invested in prevention saves up to five dollars in costs associated with homelessness. And keeping individuals and families housed promotes healthier, more stable communities. Will you help?

In the NEWS

Second Chances: SVdP Hosts Senate Event on Re-entry Solutions 2560 1920 SVDP USA

Second Chances: SVdP Hosts Senate Event on Re-entry Solutions

Second Chances: SVdP Hosts Senate Event on Re-entry Solutions Phil Conley didn’t grow up expecting to speak in the halls of the U.S. Senate. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, he lost his father at a young age and saw violence, drugs, and incarceration shape nearly every aspect of life around him. “The only…

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SVdP Bridges Access to Reemployment in Iowa through Back2Work Programs 2560 1936 SVDP USA

SVdP Bridges Access to Reemployment in Iowa through Back2Work Programs

SVdP Bridges Access to Reemployment in Iowa through Back2Work Programs In 2017, two years into his tenure as CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) in Des Moines, Iowa, Steve Havemann had an eye-opening realization: 34% of the people being served by SVdP Des Moines had been incarcerated at some point in…

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A Seat for Everyone at SVdP 2560 1920 SVDP USA

A Seat for Everyone at SVdP

A Seat for Everyone: A New Year’s Meal Served with Dignity by SVdP When Meghan McKern joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) in Chicago, she wasn’t sure how she could help. As a fine dining chef with years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, she wondered how her skills fit into the hands-on,…

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