St. Vincent de Paul Society - Helping the poor, homeless, victims of domestic violence

MSC – South Homeless Shelter Builds Community

The paint on the walls is warm and inviting, decorated with words such as “compassion,” “spirituality” and “justice” – in English and Spanish. The floor sparkles with cleanliness. Dedicated staff members smile as they answer questions for a new guest. The scent of freshly-cooked bacon and eggs drifts from the dining room.
A sign by the registration desk lists the activities for the day: “Substance Abuse Support Group – 2:00 pm,” “Smoking Cessation Support Group – 3:00 pm” “Foot Clinic – 5:00 pm,” “Women’s Support Group – 6:00 pm.”
This is not a hotel; nor is it an all-inclusive retirement home. This is the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco’s homeless shelter: the Multi-Service Center – South (MSC).

Life on the streets is very dangerous, isolating and frightening. The MSC strives to make a warm and welcoming environment for its guests so they may take the steps to overcome homelessness, poverty and addiction. “The environment has been fashioned so our guests feel like they are not just entering a shelter – they are coming home to a community,” Benedith says.
Yet, the shelter still needs help.
“I ask the community for their presence,” Benedith says.

Volunteers from our community are already breaking down the stigma through service, compassion and commitment to the MSC’s mission. “It takes a lot of good-hearted community volunteers to lend a hand and make a difference,” Benedith says.

the Multi-Service Center – South (MSC).

Corporations Make It All Possible

Volunteers from corporations such as Google, Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Stone & Youngberg and many others have served countless hours at the shelter. Whether it involved making toiletry kits for the guests, serving dinner or teaching a resume-writing workshop, these dedicated volunteers continue to create a compassionate community for our shelter guests. After three years of hard work, members of the IIDA - Northern California Chapter (IIDA-NC) completed a renovation of the shelter: transforming the sleeping quarters, dining room, reception area and drop-in center into a warm and comforting atmosphere. "We wanted to make this environment home-like and safe,” says Susie Jue, Philanthropy Lead for the IIDA-NC and project Co-Chair.

"It has meant so much to our guests and staff to have received such attention,” Benedith says. "You see how it affects our guests. They see a welcoming environment… a community.”
Wells Fargo has contributed more than 550 hours of community service in the past year, serving meals, making toiletry kits and preparing sack lunches for the shelter guests.
“One of the reasons that keeps me coming back to volunteer is definitely the beautiful smiles I see each time I’m there,” says Peggy Pun, Team Leader at Wells Fargo. “A simple smile or a genuine “thank you” makes me believe what I do does make a difference in someone’s heart.”

People Like Us

Individuals are also making a difference. Dr. Kathy Noordeh and daughter Nazgol Talebi routinely volunteer in the shelter kitchen. “Our favorite memory is from Thanksgiving Day at the MSC,” says Talebi. “The guests were given cell phones to make free calls to their family. It was so beautiful to see one of them connect with his family after eight years. I will never forget the smile on his face while talking to them on the phone.”
Parish conferences are the cornerstone of MSC volunteer efforts. “We believe we are one big caring family trying to help each other, whatever state and wherever we are in our lives,” says Raymond Magpantay, SVDP Conference Member and Vice President, Wells Fargo Bank.

(Above) Renovated sleeping quarters bring peace and strength to shelter guests,
thanks to volunteers from the IIDA-NC.

The words painted on the shelter walls - Justice, Strength, Esperanza - are more than motivating – they are the inherent values of the MSC staff. “It is a way of life,” Benedith says. “All of us deserve compassion, spirituality and justice. That’s what keeps us going. Food and shelter are the first steps, but it’s those values that truly create community and encourage personal growth.”