Who are we?Sojourners' Place provides shelter and an array of individualized services for homeless men and women that empowers our residents to return to the community as independent citizens. Residents, who sign a contract to address the multiple issues that caused their homelessness, are supported and guided by a case manager, other professional staff—and their peers. Our services are offered without cost to our residents and are applied with compassion and respect for their dignity.
|
Over 2,200 men and women have completed programs at Sojourners’ Place and moved into the community with jobs and housing; however, the scope of our services extends beyond the confines of our facility.
|
What makes us unique?
This is the way of Sojourners' Place. Not just Hope for the Homeless, but also Light for the Journey.
Unlike emergency shelters which provide a place to get in and out of the weather, Sojourners’ Place offers homeless women and men a place to get their lives back together, a place to come in to and go out from. Residents stay at Sojourners’ Place as long as they need to stop being homeless. A successful graduate leaves Sojourners’ Place with a full-time job and housing.
50 residents at a time stay as long as necessary to complete their individualized programs.
Each resident is evaluated to determine their unique needs, and signs a contract that he or she will fully participate in achieving the goal of self sufficiency, whether it is substance abuse education, life skills, GED, access to job training, mental health counseling or other services.
Once a resident completes the appropriate programs and is gainfully employed, we continue to shelter them, teaching them how to manage their money, to save, to become responsible for their own lives. Only when they are ready, do they leave.
Unlike emergency shelters which provide a place to get in and out of the weather, Sojourners’ Place offers homeless women and men a place to get their lives back together, a place to come in to and go out from. Residents stay at Sojourners’ Place as long as they need to stop being homeless. A successful graduate leaves Sojourners’ Place with a full-time job and housing.
50 residents at a time stay as long as necessary to complete their individualized programs.
Each resident is evaluated to determine their unique needs, and signs a contract that he or she will fully participate in achieving the goal of self sufficiency, whether it is substance abuse education, life skills, GED, access to job training, mental health counseling or other services.
Once a resident completes the appropriate programs and is gainfully employed, we continue to shelter them, teaching them how to manage their money, to save, to become responsible for their own lives. Only when they are ready, do they leave.
How it all began...
Sojourners’ Place, founded in 1991 by Sister Jeanne Cashman, OSU, recently celebrated 37 years of providing Delaware’s only comprehensive services to homeless adult men and women. According to Sister Jeanne, “We chose the name from the biblical injunction to reach out to the sojourners in our midst, providing hospitality and whatever they need to continue the journey.”
After her profession of vows in 1972, Sister Jeanne became an educator, teaching in elementary and secondary schools in New York and at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. Later, after years in social service work and ministry to the homeless in Wilmington, Sister Jeanne and other local leaders recognized a need beyond the model in practice then, as now—three meals and a place to sleep with a 30-day limit—that would provide an open-ended timeframe in which to develop the skills required to return to society. In 1991 she created Sojourners’ Place. The average stay is 6-8 months, and by allowing our residents the time needed to grow spiritually and emotionally, they return to the community with the priceless principle of self-respect.
After her profession of vows in 1972, Sister Jeanne became an educator, teaching in elementary and secondary schools in New York and at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. Later, after years in social service work and ministry to the homeless in Wilmington, Sister Jeanne and other local leaders recognized a need beyond the model in practice then, as now—three meals and a place to sleep with a 30-day limit—that would provide an open-ended timeframe in which to develop the skills required to return to society. In 1991 she created Sojourners’ Place. The average stay is 6-8 months, and by allowing our residents the time needed to grow spiritually and emotionally, they return to the community with the priceless principle of self-respect.
The Sojourners' Place Code
Sojourners Place has historically adopted the 12 Step philosophy and principles to aid and enrich those who journey on the path of transformation and change. Residents, while living at Sojourners Place, attend daily meetings of the 12 Step Programs and obtain a traditional 12 Step Sponsor. Importantly, residents have the opportunity to practice these steps that address physical, mental, spiritual and emotional needs in order to take their rightful place in the world. In doing so, it is our hope that they will gain these qualities of humility, gratitude, acceptance, support and authenticity.
Visit Us!
2901 NORTHEAST BOULEVARD
WILMINGTON, DE 19802
WILMINGTON, DE 19802