Vincent Village

Vincent Village supports families experiencing homelessness in building self-sufficiency.

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

    Life Skills Training: including but not limited to, household management, family health and nutrition, parenting, cooking, shopping, time management, and personal hygiene;
    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, 
    Case Management: Intake and assessment, individualized action plan for self-sufficiency, weekly goal setting and monitoring, advocacy, referrals, and daily support and encouragement.
    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.

1. Is Vincent Village a Catholic organization?

    No, although one of Vincent Villages founders was Bishop John Darcy, the agency was founded by leaders of multiple faiths.
2. What leads families to homelessness?

    Unemployment is the single largest factor in why families experience homelessness.
3. Does Vincent Village teach skills or just give handouts?

    Vincent Village takes every opportunity to empower residents to realize their maximum potential. Each adult resident has a structured 40 hour a week schedule that includes:

        Intensive Case Management
        Financial literacy and budgeting classes
        Job readiness training
        Employment and educational opportunities
        Mentoring from business volunteers
        Classes focused on wellness, physical and emotional
        Appointments attending to family health and stability

4. Does Vincent Village serve any homeless individual or family?

    Vincent Village only serves families, a single mother, single father, married couple or couple with children together. The agency refers single men or women to other shelters that serve that population.
5. How long does Vincent Village serve families? Is it a short term issue?

    A family experiencing homelessness is served first in Vincent House for up to 2 years as they work to gain employment, pay off old utility bills and save money for move out expenses. The average amount of time spent in Vincent House is 93 days. Once a family is ready, they can transition to the Phase II program and move to one of 30 program houses in the Village. Families can participate in the Phase II program for up to 5 years. They continue to receive intensive case management as they work to pay off debt and increase their credit score. 
6. Does lack of education contribute or exacerbate the crisis of homelessness?

    Over half of Vincent Village clients have a GED or high school diploma and 25% of clients enter the shelter with some college or a two year degree.
7. What do residents have in common?

    The largest single commonality shared by Village clients is having prior experiences of family violence.
8. Does Vincent Village duplicate services offered by other agencies in Fort Wayne?

    Vincent Villages rental home program is the only such program in the area serving clients from all area shelters including Charis House, FWWB Transitions Program, Hope House, YWCA & Interfaith Hospitality by providing permanent housing opportunities for families with limited income and poor rental history.