oSt. Joseph Missions Women’s Shelter, a project of St. Joseph Missions, is Fort Wayne’s first 24/7/365 emergency shelter for single homeless women. More than just a refuge for the night, St. Joseph Missions Women’s Shelter provides a safe, supportive, and structured environment that honors women’s dignity and empowers them to become self-sufficient.
Where did it all begin...
Catholics on a Mission were feeding the homeless and saw the same people over and over. Feeling the call to help, but not knowing how, these individuals set out and conducted research. They found that there was no emergency shelter for single women to go for help. A handful of these individuals formed a board, got their non-profit status and set out to open the first emergency shelter for women here in Fort Wayne. Through a lot of blood, sweat and tears, these individuals opened the shelter, located on Lake Ave. on June 8, 2021.
The shelter serves up to 18 guests on any given night and receives phone calls daily from women who have been sleeping on the streets, in their cars or even abandoned buildings and storage units. Not only do we provide a safe refuge, we also walk alongside our guests to help create a Path to Hope. With the help of our on-site case manager, guests create a case plan to help navigate next steps, ensuring guests do not exit back to places not meant for human habitation.
Where did it all begin...
Catholics on a Mission were feeding the homeless and saw the same people over and over. Feeling the call to help, but not knowing how, these individuals set out and conducted research. They found that there was no emergency shelter for single women to go for help. A handful of these individuals formed a board, got their non-profit status and set out to open the first emergency shelter for women here in Fort Wayne. Through a lot of blood, sweat and tears, these individuals opened the shelter, located on Lake Ave. on June 8, 2021.
The shelter serves up to 18 guests on any given night and receives phone calls daily from women who have been sleeping on the streets, in their cars or even abandoned buildings and storage units. Not only do we provide a safe refuge, we also walk alongside our guests to help create a Path to Hope. With the help of our on-site case manager, guests create a case plan to help navigate next steps, ensuring guests do not exit back to places not meant for human habitation.