Vincent House Shelter

The Vincent House Transitional Shelter provides shelter and supportive services for homeless families with children while they work toward higher levels of self-sufficiency and prepare to move to their own housing.


The Vincent House Transitional Shelter provides shelter and supportive services for homeless families with children while they work toward higher levels of self-sufficiency and prepare to move to their own housing. This program houses and serves 12 families at one time. Currently forty families remain on the waiting list. Families can stay at the shelter for up to two years if they show progress while obtaining services and becoming self-sufficient, but the average amount of time a family stays at the shelter is 96 days.

The Vincent House Transitional Shelter program moves families to higher levels of self-sufficiency through intensive, individualized case management and required participation in strong and proven programming. The shelter serves an average of 45-50 families each year in a group home setting with each family staying together in one bedroom and sharing common areas such as bathroom, kitchen and living room with other residents. Essential program elements include:

Basic Needs: shelter, food, medication, and clothing to establish stability in order to begin working toward self-sufficiency

Programming: Strategically designed to address obstacles and train for success

  1. Life Skills Training: including but not limited to, household management, family health and nutrition, parenting, cooking, shopping, time management, and personal hygiene;
  2. HOME Academy Education & Employment Program: financial literacy, employment readiness, resume writing, job search, dressing for success, interview training, basic on the job skills and etiquette, wellness classes, college assistance,
  3. Case Management: Intake and assessment, individualized action plan for self-sufficiency, weekly goal setting and monitoring, advocacy, referrals, and daily support and encouragement.
  4. Supportive Services: Childcare, transportation, substance abuse/mental health services, counseling, health care

For the whole family - Family Connections Programming: includes shelter based programs for parents and children to strengthen parenting skills and family bonding during evening hours. Saturday off site family trips to community festivals and events help parents assimilate and navigate family activities throughout Ft. Wayne while experiencing educational and fun activities.