St. Patrick’s Haven

St. Patrick’s Haven was founded in 1984 as a small, grassroots homeless shelter that began in response to a need. A parishioner of St. Patrick’s parish became aware of men sleeping on benches near the rectory and on sidewalk grates outside Hamot Hospital. The parishioner contacted Sister Mary Fromknecht, SSJ, Founder, and planted the seed that would grow to become St. Patrick’s Haven, a homeless shelter for men. Today, as a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwest Pennsylvania, St. Patrick’s Haven continues to provide as many as 22 men each night with a place of welcome, nightly refuge, food, comfort, and friendship. In keeping with the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, we welcome the dear neighbor without distinction. The individuals seeking shelter at the Haven may be experiencing homelessness due to addiction, mental health challenges, recent incarceration, or personal circumstances. Many of those seeking shelter are veterans. On average, we shelter five veterans a night.  We empower formerly homeless individuals to have a voice and choice in their organization by hiring people who have lived the experience of being unhoused. Our managers and assistants, who were former guests, are no longer homeless because they work for and reside at the Haven. Employing people with this lived experience better prepares us to empathize with and care for guests’ needs.