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?

Donate to Homelessness Prevention Today

In the NEWS

SVdP National President Featured in National Catholic Register 398 398 SVDP USA
  • Jill Pioter
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SVdP National President Featured in National Catholic Register

“To address the homelessness crisis, we must encounter those on the brink.” So writes SVdP National President John Berry, in his latest op-ed for the National Catholic Register. Here’s an excerpt: “To understand why prevention programs are so critically needed, we must first understand why so many people are becoming homeless. According to Harvard’s Joint…

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The Home Visit: An Encounter with our Neighbor -Video- 1080 1080 SVDP USA
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The Home Visit: An Encounter with our Neighbor -Video-

The Home Visit: An Encounter with our Neighbor Hear what three Vincentians – Kat, Ray, and Tim – have to say about their experiences during a Home Visit with a neighbor, and how that has shaped their time with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Kat Brisette, SVDP Rhode Island: Home visits are one…

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John Berry: How Can We Help Families on the Brink of Homelessness? 1080 1080 SVDP USA
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John Berry: How Can We Help Families on the Brink of Homelessness?

“Many…people at risk of homelessness today would have been, in simpler times, ‘the working poor,'” writes SVdP National President John Berry. “But as families and communities have broken down, the burden of providing has shifted onto frailer, lonelier shoulders. And as inflation continues to wreak havoc on families’ budgets, more and more single-parent families stand…

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ABOUT SVDP USA

The National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the National Council are deductible. The Council’s tax identification number is 13-5562362.

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