St. Vincent Haven in Newark will soon have nearly twice the amount of shelter space. Construction is underway on an expansion of the shelter for homeless men that will add 24 beds to the current 26-bed facility. The anticipated completion date is March 1, 2023.
The expansion will allow the Haven to fulfill its mission of respectfully and compassionately providing shelter to men who are homeless, with the goal of building their life skills as a foundation for future growth and stability that will lead to housing security.
The Haven is supported by the St. Vincent de Paul conferences at Newark Blessed Sacrament, Granville St. Edward, Heath St. Leonard, Buckeye Lake Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Mount Vernon St. Vincent de Paul parishes.
Since opening in 2010, the Haven has nearly always been filled to capacity. It turned away 113 individuals in 2021 alone, and that number is rapidly increasing.
The Licking County Task Force on Homelessness conducted a count in 2020 and found that 153 individuals, or 90 households, were experiencing homelessness in the county. This study concluded that the county had a greater need for emergency shelters. Earlier this year, the Haven’s board of directors unanimously approved expansion.
“The Haven has been full nearly every night since it opened in 2010 and immediately began serving a critical community need,” said its executive director, John Paul Munhall. “Since opening, we have served more than 1,800 men and provided more than 100,000 shelter nights.
“The Haven does not simply offer a handout, but a hand up,” Munhall said. “We recognize that we cannot help individuals by merely addressing the issue of material poverty alone, so in addition to providing shelter and meals, we help our residents develop new life skills, make better life choices to help them move forward and connect them with local agencies and services to position them for long-term growth and success.
“This whole-person approach provides the foundation for long-term positive change, gearing them toward healthier and happier lives and contributing to the common good of our community.”
All residents at the Haven, who must be at least age 18, are at 200 percent or more of the poverty level, with most having no income. Once their immediate needs are met, they meet with a case manager to identify personal barriers in areas including mental and physical health, addiction, unemployment and education.
“Case management is our most important tool to achieve positive results with our residents,” Munhall said. “The case managers and residents work together on action plans tailored to the specific needs of each resident, with the plans containing agreed-upon goals which the resident is held accountable for accomplishing.”
Case workers talk to residents twice weekly to ensure progress and success with the plans. The Haven collaborates with many other Licking County agencies to obtain appropriate assistance for the residents to overcome their barriers.
“Our programs help individuals create and make better life choices, which lead to improved life skills,” Munhall said. “We recognize that we cannot help by merely addressing the issue of material poverty alone. Dealing with other barriers is necessary for long-term positive change to occur.
“This is what Vincentians have been doing since the St. Vincent de Paul Society was founded in 1833 in Paris by Blessed Frederic Ozanam.”
Billy Ray, a former resident of the Haven, is an example of what the action plans are designed to achieve. When he became homeless in 2018 with no family or friends to help, the Haven took him in and helped him develop his action plan. After working through the plan, including attending Bible studies at the Haven, Billy Ray made a successful planned exit.
Today, he is married with a family and a home and will soon graduate from college with a degree in Christian ministry. He plans to continue working with the residents at the Haven. “Between the Haven and God, I found my calling,” Billy Ray said. “The Haven gave me everything I needed, the whole staff is fantastic and everyone is so encouraging.”
The addition will expand the Haven by 3,800 square feet and include two additional staff offices for case management, as well as a new reception area and bathroom, both designed for the intake of new residents. The current shared area will become dining-only space, and a new shared area will be added for residents to spend recreational time. A chapel will be included in the new space.
Munhall said the addition is part of a comprehensive campaign for capital, operations, programming and endowment. The campaign has a $5.5 million goal, with about $1.7 million remaining to be raised.
“Our program aims to help our men become happier, more responsible, better husbands and fathers, harder workers and better citizens,” Munhall said. “This campaign will allow us to continue to infuse love into our humble work. We are truly honored to serve our residents.”
St. Vincent Haven is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. For more information, contact Munhall at (740) 670-0822 or go to www.svdphaven.org.