St. Vincent de Paul Louisville

Who We Are

Imagine a place when compassion and respect are at the heart of every action. At St. Vincent de Paul Louisville (SVDP), we provide more than just shelter and meals - we offer a solution thereby providing hope for the future. 

St. Vincent de Paul Louisville, a lay Catholic organization, serves individuals and families in need including those who are homeless, living in poverty, suffering from addiction, enduring mental illness or experiencing acute economic crisis. Founded in 1853, SVDP offers a continuum of care that includes food, shelter, affordable housing, counseling, quality out-of-school time programs for at-risk youth, and emergency financial assistance with rent and utility bills. 

St. Vincent de Paul Louisville operates a community kitchen (Open Hand Kitchen), a client-choice food pantry, Ozanam Inn Men's Shelter, domestic violence services, three local thrift stores, an enrichment center serving at-risk youth in an after-school setting (Family Success Center), as well as supportive housing for homeless families and adults. Our downtown campus has grown to address the varied causes of chronic poverty and homelessness including disability, addiction, and mental illness. 

We believe in "Housing First" - a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness, and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life. This approach is guided by the belief that people need necessities, like food and a place to live, before attending to anything less critical, such as getting a job, budgeting properly, or attending to substance use issues. 

Additionally, Housing First is based on the understanding that client choice is valuable in housing selection and supportive service participation, and that exercising that choice is likely to make a client more successful in remaining housed and improving their life. 

Your support allows us to continue our mission to house, feed, and support those in need with compassion and dignity.