For Homeless Vets
No honorable discharged veteran should be homeless regardless of their situation. We help those who need help and give them a comfortable warm place to stay. Rehabilitation is in our hands through the work of God and through him we are blessing those who need blessed. By providing a safe warm place to live and showing that there are people who care we are able to help those veterans back on their feet in time of need. After all, they were there for us when we were in need and this is just our way of giving back to those who need us and maintain a mainstay in our community.
Comfortable Home
National Statistics
∙ Total veteran population: 22,658,000 (Per the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
∙ 23% of the homeless population are veterans
∙ 67% have served 3-7 years
∙ 89% have received an Honorable Discharge
By operating and maintaining a facility to help fallen heros get back up on their feet we are able to help do our part in maintaining a stable society by people who can contribute to society as a whole. Statistics show by using our facility that 83% of people who have been in Shepherds House have successfully completed the program and have become working citizens in the community. We believe in the power of positive thinking and are true providers for those who need and seek our help.
36 Beds
Shepherd’s House is like a giant home with a lot of structure for a multitude of people who find themselves feeling hopeless because they’re addicted to drugs or have alcohol problems; 99 percent of them are veterans.
We have an intake process and a lot of rules and a lot of surveillance cameras, and we have a beautiful facility for them to live in with one major hitch: They must stay sober. We have social workers and a lot of recovery meetings and classes and we work in collaboration with the Veterans Affairs, WorkOne and veterans centers. The minimum stay here is six months and the maximum is two years, or longer if they need it. Clients start out in an eight-man bedroom and if they do well they go into a four-man room, then a two-man room and then they’re on their own in the rooms on the second floor. It’s all incentive-based.
When they first move in, they have a mentor assigned to them to explain the programs and tell them what the rules of the facility are, and eventually they end up becoming mentors to others. If you come across any homeless vets with drug addition or alcohol problems, just let them know they can come here and they don’t have to bring anything. We give them toiletries, a welcome kit, bedding, clothing and food.They don’t have to do anything but come in and make a commitment to stay clean and sober and work a recovery program.
The Lord is Our Beacon of Hope
Shepherd’s House helps battle the nation’s drug and alcohol problem at a local level. We have expanded services with two additional facilities that provide shelter, support and clinical services. Our hope is to booster efforts to reduce substance abuse and addiction in our community and further reduce the recidivism rate.
Shepherd’s house serves a large population of homeless veterans. The majority of our veterans also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other mental health issues. Many struggle with suicidal ideations
Participants work closely with our clinical staff to create individualized treatment and then meet regularly to work on case management. That goal is to establish and maintain abstinence while increasing their knowledge of the disease and the process of recovery. Veterans are provided with a variety of services designed to assist them as they move from homelessness into permitted housing. Veterans are transformed with hard work, motivation, accountability and support from a staff, veterans are transformed. The results are life altering and for many Veterans are lifesaving.
Supporters
- Former Vice President Mike Pence
- Senator Jim Banks
- Congressman Marlin Stutzman
- Fort Wayne Mayor
- Superior Court Judge Frances Gull
- Magistrate Samuel Keirns
- Magistrate Jason Custer
- Senior Judge Wendy Davis
National Statistics
- Total veteran population: 22,658,000 (Per the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
- 23% of the homeless population are veterans
- 67% have served 3-7 years
- 89% have received an Honorable Discharge
By operating a facility to help fallen hero’s get back on their feet we are able to help do our part in maintaining a stable society by people who can contribute to society as a whole. Statistics show by using our facility that 92% of people who have been in Shepherds House have successfully completed the program and have become working citizens in this community. We believe in the power of positive thinking and are true providers for those who need and seek our help.
Shepherd's House Statement of Faith
Shepherd's House is founded on Christian Principles and beliefs and the authority of scriptures. We believe in the Trinity and that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior. We are faith based, nonprofit which also offers these types of foundations and principles to our veterans at Shepherd’s House in all that we do. We treat all Veterans with dignity and respect, and Shepherd’s house respects the belief systems of all clients and encourages all participants and their own faith journey in recovery from addictions.
Mission Statement
The mission of Shepherd’s House is to rebuild the lives of those who society views as hopeless, into sober and productive assets to this community.
Board of Directors
- Jane Surbeck, President
- James Zuber, Vice President
- Dennis Zent, Voting Member, State Representative- House District 51
- Dennis Schebig, Secretary, Retired Fort Wayne Police Officer
- Magistrate Jason Custer, Voting Member, Allen County Superior Court
- Mark Music, Treasurer
- Terry McDonald, Voting Member, CEO New Haven Chamber of Commerce, Former Mayer of New Haven, IN
- Dean Huey, Voting Member, Retired Allen County Police Officer 1983 to 2008
Our Facility
- 35 Beds on Tennessee Avenue
- 6 Beds on Spy Run
- 39 Beds at Choices Treatment Center
- On Public Transportation Line
- Exercise/Weight Room
- Computer Lab
- Serenity Gardens/Pond
- Outdoor Theater
- Ice Machine
- Laundry Facilites - OnSite