Our Mission

We are called to Never Stop Loving. Inspired by the Hospitality of St. John of God and rooted in Catholic teachings, Good Shepherd provides person-centred health, housing and human services.

Our Vision

Guided by our Faith in People, we are committed to working together to build healthy and resilient communities founded on the principle of social justice for all.

Our Values

Hospitality, as inspired by St. John of God is at the heart of Good Shepherd's mission. This means that we welcome all people with compassion, acceptance and a spirit of generosity; creating opportunities for transformation.

Hospitality embodies our Values of:

• Responsibility
• Availability
• Adaptability
• Quality
• Dignity

Hospitality embodies our Values of:

• Responsibility
• Availability
• Adaptability
• Quality
• Dignity

About GOOD SHEPHERD HAMILTON

In response to the needs of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the 1950s, the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd accepted the invitation to open a Men’s Hostel in Hamilton in 1961. Through the commitment to our mission of “Never Stop Loving” and our willingness to be of service to those in need, we have grown to become the largest provider of human and social services in the Greater Hamilton area.

Good Shepherd services include emergency food and clothing; daily hot meals; emergency shelters for men, youth, families, women and children; transitional housing and education for homeless and street-involved youth; hospice palliative care; community mental health programs; and supportive housing programs.

We see the good in people, not only the challenge. We hear the warmth in their voice, not only the despair. We recognize that we all have value, potential and promise. Our programs help to tear down the barriers that have impeded our community’s most vulnerable citizens and help them to establish a path to a stable and healthy life.

The work of Good Shepherd is based on a fundamental belief in providing hope and restoring dignity to the most vulnerable members of our community. Good Shepherd's innovative programs and services are provided 365 days a year, without judgment and distinction, to anyone in need. All our services are offered free of charge. 

In January 2015, The Brothers of the Good Shepherd and the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, merged into the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God - Province of the Good Shepherd in North America.