Shelter and Food for the Homeless

Visit the new website for SAFH!

Shelter and Food for the Homeless (SAFH, as in "safe" shelter and food) was formed in 1986 by the Pastor of Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish. Trinity had begun this outreach program and needed a separate incorporated entity to manage the activities of a nightly shelter, daily soup kitchen and food pantry, and referral center. SAFH relates to Trinity as a program, but functions financially with its own staff and board of directors. Pastor Phil Trzynka is part-time Executive Director.

SAFH's Soup Kitchen is open every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m., serving approximately 200 hot and nutritious varied meals. SAFH staff and volunteers cook, serve, and clean up after these meals which are offered cafeteria-style in our community room. Four paid full-time manage and direct the program with the help of several volunteers who help every day. Individuals, churches, foundations, corporations, and the city help provide funding. New York City and Federal Emergency Food Assistance Programs, City Harvest, and individuals donate food. Food and supplies are purchased through a food bank and commercial wholesalers.

Related to the Soup Kitchen are two Food Pantry programs. On Monday mornings seniors and others with a chronic need are able to come twice per month. Tuesdays through Fridays at 12:30 p.m. low income families and individuals are able to come once a month. An agency called the Food and Hunger Hotline refers to us people who need food - six thousand low income families and individuals per year, of which 40 percent are children. Families pick up bags of groceries, including food for three meals a day for three days, according to family size and conforming to state-approved nutrition standards.

Complementing these direct food services, SAFH offers a spectrum of community resources. An on-site referral counselor works with walk-in clients Tuesday through Friday from 11-4 p.m. and other times by appointment. A medical van offering free basic primary health services visits regularly. Food stamp screening takes place in several languages twice a month. A legal clinic meets once a month. Clothing is distributed daily, especially during the winter. Referrals are made to rehab programs, shelters, other food sites, and entitlements. Assistance is given with resume writing and job searches.

 SAFH has a successful record of providing continuous service for 12 years. In partnership with Trinity, SAFH has provided employment to many neighborhood residents, meaningful volunteer work for many more, and enabled many to return to independent living. It has invested over 1.5 million dollars in economic aid in a community here as many as 64 percent of the residents live below the poverty line. In June 1996, SAFH and Trinity completed the construction of a new building that includes a restaurant-grade kitchen and a dining area that seats 75 guests. SAFH is eager to broaden public and private support in anticipation of increasing need. With expected reductions in benefits to the poor, SAFH feels that it is physically and programmatically poised to assist and feed the hungry and homeless.