The Shelter was established by St. John’s Lutheran Church in 1985 to provide emergency shelter to homeless women and children sleeping on their steps. In 1988, St. John’s Shelter became a public charity, incorporating as a 501(c) 3 organization. It moved out of the church fellowship hall into the Loaves and Fishes complex, providing shelter to 40 women and children for a maximum of 30 days, with the clients having to leave the Shelter during the day.

The Shelter moved to a much larger facility in 2004 and began providing more comprehensive services 24-hours-a-day/ 7-days-a-week to 100 women and children for a maximum of 90 days. Services include mental health counseling, drug and alcohol recovery programs, weekly public health services from a nurse, employment services, housing services, parenting classes, health/fitness classes, budgeting and financial management class, and self- development classes. At this time the Shelter developed a Children’s Program to deal specifically with the effects of homelessness on the children. The Program ensures that every school age child is in school and that he or she has an individualized learning program to assist them in getting back on track. The Program offers an After-School Program as well as targeted, one-on-one tutoring to every child.

Contact St. John's Shelter Program at (916) 453-1482.