Seeking God’s guidance and believing that we are responsible to each other as members of one family, the mission of Bethesda Project is to find and care for the abandoned poor and to be family with those who have none.

Affirming the dignity of the individual through the provision of well-maintained, safe and comfortable homes and communal spaces.
 

Inviting personal transformation within an overall continuum of care through well designed and appropriately staffed programs that meet concrete needs.

WHO WE ARE

Bethesda Project, an interfaith community of prayer, reflection, and action, responds to the spiritual call to serve the abandoned poor. The chronically homeless in our midst represent the clearest instance of the "abandoned poor" today - those whose plight goes unrecognized and whose needs are unmet. Bethesda Project strives to be the premier provider of housing and services to the abandoned poor in Philadelphia through serving our brothers and sisters with quality and integrity.

Bethesda Project's fundamental commitment is to create communities wherein men and women, on the margins of a complex society, find sanctuary and have their basic needs met in the company of a compassionate and caring family.

We are an extended family made up of guests, residents, staff, volunteers and supporters. Supporters and volunteers come to Bethesda Project from all stations in life to contribute their time and special gifts to be a presence in the lives of the poor. 

The relationship thus established is reciprocal and is healing for everyone involved.  The key is reciprocity - time and again we hear from volunteers that they take away more than they give when they spend time with the men and women of Bethesda Project. Who are we? We are people who have responded to God's call to act with justice, serve one another and love tenderly.

OUR VISION

Bethesda Project, a faith based, ecumenical community of prayer, reflection and action, responds to the call to serve the abandoned poor - those among the poor whose condition would otherwise go unrecognized and whose needs would remain unmet. From among these poor we have chosen to focus our energies on those who are chronically homeless. We aspire to serve these brothers and sisters by establishing communities with them that provide quality housing and supportive services.

Bethesda Project’s fundamental commitment is to create communities wherein men and women, on the margins of a complex society, find sanctuary and have their basic needs met in the company of a compassionate and caring family. We are a community where residents, staff, volunteers, donors and board of directors meet as members to create a loving environment where all can flourish. We encourage one another to develop our potential to the fullest. We empower one another and offer opportunities for responsible participation in our communal life.

Our aim is to develop communities that:

· Affirm the dignity of the individual through the provision of well-maintained, safe, comfortable homes and communal spaces.

· Provide the organizational and personal supports that encourage members to participate fully in the community’s life.

· Invite personal transformation within an overall continuum of care through well-designed and appropriately staffed programs that meet concrete needs.

Bethesda Project’s commitment to providing quality care takes two tangible forms. First, Bethesda Project gathers together a staff marked by compassion, experience and skill. Second, Bethesda Project brings ample financial resources to support both staff and programs. Our long-term commitment to guests and residents demands a financially secure organization that practices effective stewardship of resources and disciplined planning for future growth.

Our sense of interdependence with the poor calls us to witness and advocate with them for changes in attitudes and public policies. Our goal is to build a community that affirms the dignity of each person and encourages its members to contribute their unique gifts to the common good.