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St John's Shelter In Hagerstown

St. John's Shelter is an outreach ministry of St. John's Episcopal Parish that provides emergency shelter for homeless families, something that it has been doing for almost 21 years.  The Shelter operates a six apartment facility at 14-16 Randolph Avenue in Hagerstown.  Five of the apartments are reserved for homeless families and the sixth apartment is for the caretaker couple who provide support to the families housed within the shelter.  It is one of only two shelters in Washington County that provide homeless family shelter.

In 2007, the Shelter provided 5,234 bed nights of housing for 126 individuals in 33 families. The basic operating cost for 2007 was $3.46 per bed night which is almost certainly the lowest bed night cost of any shelter in Maryland. Thus the Shelter provides a very important and vital ministry of outreach to the extended community at a very low cost that is overwhelmingly responsible to the private benefactors and government agencies from which it receives support.

The low cost is because of the structure of the Shelter operation. The buildings were paid for up-front thus there are no mortgage payments. The help and service support is entirely provided by dedicated and committed volunteers. And the caretaker support is provided by a steadfast and experienced couple who provide this service in return for their free apartment and utility costs.

As St. John's Shelter enters its 22nd year of service we are facing the challenge of diminishing government support and increasing homelessness brought on by economic factors that compel families out of heretofore affordable housing. Given this trend, the Shelter program is progressively more and more relevant to addressing a major social ill in our community. The Christian character and mettle of St. John's Parish, and our extended community, has in the past provided us with generous support and will be needed in the forthcoming years to enable us to meet this challenge.

Click here to contact us for your opportunity to serve in this worthwhile project.

  • © 2011 St. John's Episcopal Church
  • 101 South Prospect St., Hagerstown, MD 21740 (map)
  • Phone: (301) 733-2560
  • Fax: (301) 733-2665
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St. John's Shelter is an outreach ministry of St. John's Episcopal Parish that provides emergency shelter for homeless families, something that it has been doing for almost 21 years. The Shelter operates a six apartment facility at 14-16 Randolph Avenue in Hagerstown. Five of the apartments are reserved for homeless families and the sixth apartment is for the caretaker couple who provide support to the families housed within the shelter. It is one of only two shelters in Washington County that provide homeless family shelter. In 2007, the Shelter provided 5,234 bed nights of housing for 126 individuals in 33 families. The basic operating cost for 2007 was $3.46 per bed night which is almost certainly the lowest bed night cost of any shelter in Maryland. Thus the Shelter provides a very important and vital ministry of outreach to the extended community at a very low cost that is overwhelmingly responsible to the private benefactors and government agencies from which it receives support. The low cost is because of the structure of the Shelter operation. The buildings were paid for up-front thus there are no mortgage payments. The help and service support is entirely provided by dedicated and committed volunteers. And the caretaker support is provided by a steadfast and experienced couple who provide this service in return for their free apartment and utility costs. As St. John's Shelter enters its 22nd year of service we are facing the challenge of diminishing government support and increasing homelessness brought on by economic factors that compel families out of heretofore affordable housing. Given this trend, the Shelter program is progressively more and more relevant to addressing a major social ill in our community. The Christian character and mettle of St. John's Parish, and our extended community, has in the past provided us with generous support and will be needed in the forthcoming years to enable us to meet this challenge.