Father Mckenna Center Inc

A stone's throw from our nation's capitol, the Father McKenna Center Inc. was established in 1983 to carry on the legacy of Father Horace McKenna, a Jesuit priest who devoted his life to the service of the poor and homeless. The poorest of the poor come to the Father McKenna Center each weekday to get their mail, take a shower, to get some clean clothes, to ask for job and drug counseling and to experience a safe and drug-free environment. The Father McKenna Center can either provide or efficiently refer guests to any service a homeless man needs. The Father McKenna Center is the last day-time drop-in center for homeless men in the downtown Washington, DC area. The Father McKenna Center serves men, women and families through its programs that include:

• Men's day-time drop-in center;
• Food pantry serving families and senior citizens;
• Rent and utility assistance to prevent homelessness;
• Cold weather hypothermia shelter to prevent homeless
  men from freezing to death on our streets;
• A small transitional living program.

The vast majority of those who come to the Father McKenna Center suffer from mental illness and addictions. The purpose of the Father McKenna Center is to uncover the reasons why a person suffers from poverty and homelessness and then through mental health, medical, addiction counseling and education to motivate a person to go beyond their current situation. Demand for the services of the Father McKenna Center increased significantly due to recession, chronic poverty and unemployment and remains high