Moody Grant Recipient: St. Vincent’s House

For more than 70 years, St. Vincent’s House has stood as a beacon of HOPE and healing in the Galveston community. Rooted in faith and service, we walk alongside our historically excluded friends and neighbors facing times of crisis, ensuring they are met with compassion, dignity, and care. Through our wide range of support services, including creative housing solutions, rental and utility assistance, case management, food and hygiene supplies, transportation, and other essential resources. We address the non-medical barriers that prevent individuals from living healthy, resilient lives. Our Integrated Care Model connects people to vital health services directly under our roof, with core partners offering over 30 multi-specialty clinics, free dental extractions, and comprehensive mental health services. Every day, St. Vincent’s House plays a critical role in preventing homelessness, promoting financial stability, and fostering long-term self-sufficiency. We remain a trusted safety net for our neighbors, working hand in hand to build a stronger, healthier, and more HOPEful Galveston.

 

 

Can you share a brief history of St. Vincent’s House?

 St. Vincent’s House originated from the St. Augustine’s of Hippo Episcopal Church in Galveston, the first Historically Black congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Established in June 1884 by 50 Black seamen who longed for a place of their own to worship on the Sabbath, St. Augustine’s created a lasting legacy of faith, resilience, and service. In 1952, the Church extended this mission by establishing St. Vincent’s House as an outreach of the Episcopal Church, dedicated to serving the poor, the marginalized, and the underserved of Galveston.

From the beginning, St. Vincent’s House has stood as a faith-based social service organization and a beacon of HOPE for historically excluded communities facing crisis. Outreach is at the heart of our ministry, meeting people where they are and walking with them through times of greatest need. More than 70 years later, St. Vincent’s House continues to live out its call to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we serve our friends and neighbors with compassion, dignity, and love.

Today, in 2025, St. Vincent’s House stands the test of time, as one of the largest social service providers in Galveston County, assisting more than 118,000 duplicated individuals annually – a notable 285% increase in services since 2019.

Click here to learn more about how we transform lives!

 

 

What services and programs do you offer?

St. Vincent’s House is committed to addressing the non-medical drivers of health in Galveston County through its Integrated Care Model – a comprehensive, wraparound approach through both in-house services & collaborative partnerships designed to help at-risk families achieve better health outcomes, regain economic stability, achieve financial independence, and build long-term resilience.

Through collaborative efforts with partners such as access to over 35 multi-specialty clinics through the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Family Service Center (FSC) providing bilingual mental health care, vision care, dental extractions through our team of volunteer dentists, and immigration legal services with Galveston-Houston Immigration Representation Project (GHIRP), we are able to provide comprehensive care to all individuals and families in crisis that walk through our doors. Our services include creative housing solutions, rental and utility assistance, comprehensive case management, food, hygiene supplies, transportation, tuition payments, education expenses, workforce readiness and other essential needs – basically anything that creates a barrier to someone living a healthy and resilient lifestyle.

St. Vincent’s House launched the Sandpiper Cove Community Development Committee (SCCDC) to foster sustainable growth and improve quality of life for residents of one of Galveston’s most underserved neighborhoods. Through deep partnerships with organizations such as University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Public Health, Galveston County Health District, Texas A&M, The Rotary Club of Galveston, CTRL + Create, Family Service Center, Boys & Girls Club, and so many other amazing organizations, we deliver holistic, resident-driven, on-site programming in health, education, economic empowerment, and community engagement – empowering community members to become leaders, advocates, and mentors within their own back yard.

And finally, as the designated “72-hour HUB” by the Galveston County Food Bank (GCFB), St. Vincent’s House is at the forefront of disaster response efforts, ensuring that essential supplies reach those in need within the crucial first 72 hours after a disaster strikes.

 

What individuals are served by St. Vincent’s House? How does St. Vincent’s House’s aim to improve the quality of life for these clients?

St. Vincent’s House serves all of God’s people: vulnerable individuals, families, seniors, and Veterans in Galveston County who are experiencing crisis and facing the risk of losing stable housing, financial hardship, chronic health challenges, mental illness, and systemic barriers to care. Vulnerability does not discriminate. Many of our clients struggle with overlapping challenges such as untreated trauma, substance use, unstable housing, lack of transportation, unemployment, and chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.

Even in the face of rising costs and economic uncertainty, our goal remains clear: to continue providing excellent, life-changing services that foster stability, dignity, and self-sufficiency for every neighbor we serve. Beyond the thousands of faces we serve are countless stories of barriers broken & transformed lives!

 

Tell us more about the Comprehensive Case Management program?

At St. Vincent’s House, our Comprehensive Case Management Program is a cornerstone of our Integrated Care Model, designed to stabilize families in crisis and help them build pathways toward long-term self-sufficiency. In 2024 alone, our team processed more than 2,000 applications, successfully keeping over 700 families in their homes. Led by a Program Director with over 20 years of experience and supported by three seasoned case managers, the program delivers wraparound services that address not just urgent needs but also the root causes of instability.

For families and individuals facing immediate housing risks, we provide short-term rental and mortgage support, including assistance with security deposits, rent, utilities, car repairs and payments, and even housing tax payments when needed. But our care goes beyond housing – whether it’s behavioral health, legal advocacy, employment support, college tuition payments or transportation, our case managers ensure each client is connected to the right resource at the right time. Clients also gain access to food assistance, employment aid, and financial literacy programs, leveraging both St. Vincent’s House’s internal services and trusted community partnerships.

This holistic, client-centered approach not only prevents homelessness but also empowers individuals and families to achieve greater stability, resilience, and HOPE.

 

What clinical services are offered for clients?

At St. Vincent’s House, we care for the whole person through a variety of health and support services. We have over 35 multi-specialty clinics providing care in areas such as respiratory therapy, audiology, speech, physical and occupational therapy, endocrinology, neurology, gynecology, urology, psychiatry, podiatry, rheumatology, cardiology (including heart failure), wound care, ophthalmology, chronic care management, and interprofessional and care transition support. In addition, we offer dental care on Saturdays, bilingual adult mental health services through the Family Service Center, vision screenings and glasses in partnership with Prevent Blindness and Sight for All. Together, these clinical services are paired with all of our case management and social services to encompass the Integrated Care Model, ensuring holistic care that supports both medical and social needs of individuals and families.

Additionally, St. Vincent’s House Hope Clinic serves as the primary community-based site for clinic rotations for students from the University of Texas Medical Branch across all medical professions. Through hands-on experience in our interprofessional clinics, students in medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, and other disciplines gain invaluable real-world training while providing essential care to Galveston’s most underserved residents. This partnership not only strengthens the future healthcare workforce but also expands access to compassionate, high-quality services for the community, including through outreach clinics at Galveston Central Church and the commercial fishing docks.

At our Grace Clinic inside Central Church, for example, a man in his 60s who was homeless and nearly blind from cataracts was recently connected to life-changing surgery. Our team not only scheduled the operation but also secured financial assistance, medications, transportation, and a safe recovery space – ensuring that his dignity and future were preserved. His story illustrates how the Hope Clinic blends education, healthcare, and compassion to transform both patients’ lives and the training of tomorrow’s medical professionals.

 

Tell us more about your relationship with the Moody Foundation.

 The Moody Foundation, a pillar in the Galveston community and cornerstone of philanthropy, has been a long-standing and generous supporter of St. Vincent’s House. Over the years, their commitment has helped sustain and expand essential health, wellness, and social service programs for the community. Their historic investments have enabled us to strengthen our clinical and social services, broaden outreach initiatives, and provide vital resources to families in need. By standing alongside St. Vincent’s House, the Moody Foundation has not only honored its legacy of giving back to Galveston but has also ensured that our mission of offering HOPE, healing, and holistic care continues to grow.

 

Upcoming events or key milestones we should highlight?

 St. Vincent’s House is serving the community through a series of annual events! In November 2025, our homebound seniors and veterans enrolled in our Expanded Food & Hygiene Pantry program will enjoy Thanksgiving Meal box, ensuring our most vulnerable brothers and sisters have a warm holiday meal. Our Thanksgiving Meal boxes come complete with a turkey, ham or rotisserie chicken, all the sides and fixings and of course, dessert. In December 2025, the Angel HOPE Tree will provide gifts and support for children and families in need during the Christmas season. Looking ahead to February 2026, the Winter Family Health Fest will offer free health screenings, wellness resources, and family-friendly activities to promote community health and well-being.

 

Measured Results:

– Overall Reach: Served 118,684 duplicated individuals in 2024, representing 11,515 distinct individuals and 6,499 households across 150 zip codes.

– Growth Since 2020: Services increased from 21,504 individuals in 2019 to 118,684 in 2024 — a 285% increase.

– Medical Care: 3,772 individual medical services delivered, including general medicine, neurology, psychiatry, dentistry, and interprofessional clinics.

– Social Services: 8,702 individual assistance services, including rental/utility aid, homelessness prevention, and transportation

(6,441 rides).

– Mental Health: 185 individuals served through the Family Service Center, totaling 34,030 client hours and 621 sessions.

–Legal & Citizenship: 512 households impacted, 2,625 consultations, and 328 children received legal or social service support.

–655 Narcan kits distributed, supporting a 50% reduction in overdose deaths in Galveston County.

–Outreach: Connected over 600 residents to healthcare, social services, and community resources through the Sandpiper Cove Community Development Committee.

Pantry & Nutrition Support:

– 22,368 duplicated individuals received groceries and hygiene supplies (24.8% increase from 2023).

– 7,141 distinct individuals served through the pantry.

– 547 households received homebound deliveries.

– 7,905 homebound food deliveries completed (33% increase from 2023), averaging 200 weekly deliveries.

– 8,864 snack packs distributed to 943 unsheltered individuals.

– 83% of pantry clients referred to at least one other SVH service.