Background

Sanctuary is a Christian charitable organization that seeks to establish and develop holistic, inclusive and healthy community. We welcome people who have, for the most part, known only rejection and abuse. Our core community includes:

• people who are homeless and people who run their own businesses
• middle-aged, middle-class people and squeegee kids
• university students and hardened street people.

Sharing our lives and our resources, we reach out to a downtown neighborhood plagued with homelessness, drugs, prostitution, unemployment and AIDS. We offer dignity, support and direction to people who want to reclaim healthy, meaningful lives. Through drop-ins, street outreach and one-to-one relationships, we offer food, clothing and basic health care. Our staff help individual community members access welfare, housing, legal counsel, medical care, counseling, therapy or drug rehabilitation. Perhaps the most valuable thing we offer is simple friendship.

Philosophy

The most fundamental need of people on the street is something that most people take for granted; ­ a meaningful place in a healthy community, a sense of belonging.

Without it, drug rehab, housing or employment programs have little effect. Without it, people remain trapped in a lifestyle that is difficult to escape. When people don't feel like they belong, they just can't seem to recover.

For most people on the street, their experiences of community have been dysfunctional at best. Rather than simply duplicating social services, Sanctuary provides a unique, healthy community - a safe place.

We say: "If you're willing to share your life with us, we'll share ours with you. We'll encourage you when you mess up, help you find direction when you're not sure which way to go, hold you when you're hurting, and help you discover, strengthen and focus your gifts and abilities. We're here for the long haul." It's not uncommon for people in the Sanctuary community to tell us, "You're the closest thing that I have to family."