A Year in Review
Thanks to the dedicated work of our coworkers and volunteers and the support of our donors and funders, in 2024 we provided high-quality services, such as a daily meal program to thousands of individuals and essential addiction services to hundreds.
Additionally, Good Shepherd launched new initiatives, including a meal service for 48 individuals staying at our hotel shelter and an expansion of our homeless Veterans’ program with a complement of a Case Manager, an Addiction and Mental Health Worker, a Peer Worker and a Housing Worker. We have also started a weekly breakfast club for Veterans in collaboration with our partnership with Mainstay Housing.
2024 witnessed the successful implementation of our Eviction Prevention and Housing Follow-up Services, which are vital to the organization’s vision of eliminating chronic homelessness in our community.
In partnership with healthcare providers, our medical services effectively offered psychiatric care, general practitioner services, foot care, dental care, which enabled us to help even more individuals.
Barrett House and St. Joseph’s residences continued to offer a home for people living with HIV/AIDS and for formerly homeless seniors. Pastoral Care and spiritual support were available to clients, coworkers and volunteers alike.
As we begin 2025, Good Shepherd will continue to deliver highly needed quality services. Our strategic plan includes the vision of creating 95 units of supportive housing for seniors who have or are at risk of homelessness.
Whether raising the necessary financial resources to realize our vision of creating 95 housing units or continuing our critical services, we will rely on our incredible coworkers, donors, funders and volunteers to ensure we provide effective programming to help those who seek our support. Good Shepherd will continue to be present for the homeless and the disadvantaged when they need us.
As our founder, St. John of God, would say, Do good to yourself, my brothers and sisters, by doing good to others. May Jesus Christ be with you and all those around you.
Aklilu Wendaferew, MSW, RSW