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St. Barnabas Mission

sbmmom ECS St. Barnabas Mission serves homeless women and their children, providing not only shelter but case management and related services to address the root causes of homelessness.

Intensive case management at the Mission helps families address economic and personal barriers to obtaining housing. While just under a quarter of families remain in shelter for only a few days or weeks, most residents stay for one to nine months. Three quarters of residents eventually move into safe, stable housing.

The Mission maintains high quality service and meets the diverse needs of families presenting mental health, substance abuse, poverty and other challenges. Each year, about 140 female-headed families (including about 200 children) find a safe haven at ECS St. Barnabas.

One thing most families have in common is young children - half of all the children served are age four or younger. Most families include just one or two children. The majority of mothers at the Mission are under 30, while about 20% are between the ages of 40 and 64.

ECS St. Barnabas operates under a contract with the Philadelphia Office of Supportive Housing, which provides all resident referrals.

Meet Claris, ECS St. Barnabas Resident

ECS St. Barnabas Mission for Homeless Families

clarisb Claris, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, came here to build a better life for her children. Instead, she lost her son to the lifestyle of the streets. She put off her educational goals and neglected her health, working long hours on a factory floor. Then she had to leave her job for family reasons.

She was caught in the downward spiral of poverty, and it nearly destroyed her when she attempted suicide. Thankfully, she survived. She went directly from the hospital to ECS St. Barnabas Mission for homeless women and their children, a move she says saved her life. Now she is training to become a medical assistant while maintaining a safe home for her family.

Episcopal Community Services | 225 S. Third St | Philadelphia | PA 19106 | Tel: 215.351.1400 | Fax: 215.351.1497