History
The Brothers of the Good Shepherd arrived in Hamilton in 1961 at the request of Bishop Joseph F. Ryan. They set up a Men’s Hostel in an old building at the corner of MacNab and Vine Streets where they offered food and shelter to mostly transient or homeless men.
As the needs of the community grew, so did the services provided by the Brothers:
1961 |
The Brothers open a Men’s Hostel |
1972 |
The new Men’s Centre begins operating |
1982 |
The Volunteer Outreach Program is established |
1983 |
Martha House opens with 11 emergency beds for women |
1986 |
Martha House expands to 19 beds for women and children |
1986 |
The Good Shepherd Food Bank opens on Eastwood Ave |
1990 |
The Food Bank relocates to Parkdale Ave North |
1991 |
Brennan House offers residential care to 15 homeless teens |
1992 |
SAGE Family Camp Program is established as a partnership between Martha House and the Catholic Youth Organization |
1992 |
Martha House expands to 28 beds |
1995 |
The Food Bank relocates to the Good Shepherd Warehouse |
1995 |
Mary’s Place opens with nine emergency beds for homeless women |
1998 |
Emmanuel House at 90 Stinson St in Hamilton opens as a 10-bed residence for individuals living with terminal illnesses |
1998 |
Notre Dame House begins sheltering street youth |
1999 |
Somerville House offers supportive housing to 10 women |
2001 |
The Notre Dame School program offers street involved and homeless teens an opportunity to finish their education |
2005 |
The Family Centre offers temporary emergency accommodation and residential support to 20 families who have become homeless. |
Brothers Richard MacPhee, Justin Howson, Terence Aylward and Tom Liss. 2006.
Good Shepherd will be celebrating
50 years of community service
in 2011.