Through FOCUS’s support and guidance, working alongside the advisory board in Cleveland, we have a 12 bedroom transitional house. We also have stability, and a fantastic network of ministries across the US to work with. It’s really nothing less than a miracle what God has enabled the ministry to accomplish.

“St. Herman's saved my life."

When my teenagers were less than thrilled to go serve dinner the evening before they went back to school over Christmas break, I don’t think any of us realized that we would get more out of it than the people we served...It was so humbling to see so many people in need of a warm meal and how much good St. Herman’s does for the community.

The Orthodox Church needs to be in the community, it needs to be serving people. I think we need we need St. Herman’s more than St. Herman’s needs us. The children of [my parish] need to look poor people in the eyes and see who they are and connect with them.

Just like everyone else that’s here, I was homeless. I had no family, they had all passed away. I had no relatives who would take me in, so this has been a godsend for me. Many of us have no family so this is the only family we’ve got. It’s a house of hospitality.