The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) has marked a significant milestone: the one-year anniversary of De Paul Manor, its 100-bed transitional shelter designed specifically for seniors and adults living with disabilities.

Since opening in August 2024, De Paul Manor has become a safe haven for 159 individuals, offering more than just a place to sleep; it has delivered compassionate care and critical support services that help residents move toward permanent stability. Already, 43 residents have successfully transitioned into permanent housing. This anniversary coincides with SVdP’s annual 100 Days of Summer campaign, a seasonal initiative that raises awareness and mobilizes support for those experiencing homelessness during the hottest and most dangerous time of year. August, designated as the month of shelter, serves as a poignant backdrop for the De Paul Manor celebration.

A special event commemorating the shelter’s first year will be held on Tuesday, August 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at De Paul Manor, located on SVdP’s main campus in Phoenix. Shelter residents, staff, and community partners will gather for a celebration that will include a resident-led reflection activity, a collaborative banner of personal stories and drawings, and a toast to mark “one year of hope.”

“De Paul Manor has become a place of healing, dignity, and transformation for those who’ve experienced the trauma of homelessness,” said Julia Matthies, SVdP’s Associate Chief Program Officer. “Its anniversary is a reminder of what’s possible when our community comes together to offer shelter and hope. And there’s no better time to reflect than during our 100 Days of Summer campaign, when the need for shelter is literally life-saving.”

Among those who have experienced this transformation firsthand is Robyn Trost, one of the shelter’s first residents and now a proud graduate living in permanent housing. “A bed is a wonderful thing,” Trost said. “De Paul Manor is the Cadillac of refuge. It’s the best place in the Valley.”

De Paul Manor occupies part of a new 50,000-square-foot building that also supports other vital services. These include:

• The Marion and Bob Auray Companion Animal Clinic, a 3,000-square-foot veterinary facility that opened in July 2025. Operated by SVdP’s Companion Animal Program with support from volunteer veterinarians, the clinic provides basic veterinary care for pets belonging to residents of SVdP’s transitional and emergency shelters.
• The Workforce Training Center, a dedicated space run by SVdP’s Workforce Opportunities Program, designed to equip residents with the tools and skills they need to find and maintain stable employment.

The building was made possible through a $20 million investment from the City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, the State of Arizona, and generous private donors who share SVdP’s vision of long-term, sustainable solutions to homelessness.

As SVdP celebrates one year of De Paul Manor’s impact, the organization is also calling on the public to join its 100 Days of Summer campaign and help expand access to housing, support services, and life-changing resources that guide individuals from crisis to stability. Learn more at stvincentdepaul.net.