What We Do
The mission of Shepherd's Heart Fellowship is to reach out to Veterans, the homeless and other vulnerable populations with spiritual, emotional, and physical support. Since 1993, Shepherd's Heart Fellowship has served men and women who are Veterans, homeless and vulnerable of Pittsburgh by providing them with food, shelter, information and referral, other resources and, most importantly, hope.
We offer the following comprehensive services to our vulnerable, homeless Neighbors:
• A Drop-In Center (“Shepherd’s Place”), where 30-90 adults who are hungry, homeless or nearly homeless, low-income and/or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol come 5 days per week. Participants receive breakfast, counseling, encouragement and love. They are given the opportunity to take showers, wash their clothes, receive resources and referrals, and be connected to a caring community. Drop-In Center staff regularly conduct Outreach by visiting homeless camps, abandoned buildings, bus stations, and the streets to meet vulnerable men and women who don’t know where to turn for the help they desperately need.
• Shepherd’s Heart Veteran’s Home (“House of Hope”), where 15 formerly homeless Veterans receive transitional housing, with a strong rehabilitation component with counseling and casework; education and training; food; transportation; referral and follow up services for mental and physical health services; and more for up to six months until they overcome obstacles and are graduated into independent living. The program and services are carried out in partnership with the Veterans’ Administration.
• A Food Pantry (“Feed My Sheep”) which provides non-perishable food items and daily prepared foods to more than 1,400 individuals and families annually in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, 412 Food Rescue, restaurants, caterers, and food-related vendors. Throughout Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship, we provide 40,000 meals annually.
• A Resource Center, which provides more than 1,200 individuals and families annually with blankets, coats, shoes, underwear, and other clothing and toiletries.
• A Worship/Community Gathering Space, where individuals come for worship and a meal on Sundays at 5:15 pm, supported by volunteers from partner churches, universities and Veteran’s groups. Our space is also used by many members of our community. The Occupational Therapy students from Duquesne University often use the space when they teach computer skills and life skills to the formerly homeless Veteran residents from our Shepherd’s Heart Veteran’s Home. On Sunday mornings, the space is home for a Narcotics Anonymous recovery meeting. Additionally, Life Changing Service Dogs, who train and provide service dogs for Veterans, and Friends of DaNang, who help build schools and hospitals in DaNang in Vietnam, utilize our space.
• Our two Emergency Funds support (1) our military Veterans and (2) our vulnerable Neighbors with gift cards for groceries, gasoline, fast food, cleaning supplies, basic clothing needs, and much more. SHF also helps with rent, utilities, and other basic needs to help (1) prevent our Neighbors from slipping back into homelessness or (2) to provide comfort, encouragement and a Safety Net to Neighbors in crises who lack basic needs.
