141 Franklin Street Stamford, Connecticut 06901 (203) 388-0100
Chronology
St. John's Episcopal Church, Stamford began an organized outreach program to the immigrants living in South Stamford who had migrated to work for the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company about 1879. Its outreach also targeted the workers who were building the railroad and who lived in the area.
The Cottage Services program in South Stamford homes was the first formal step in an ongoing program to help persons in need.
In 1882 St. John's Church House opened its doors to the neighborhood in a building donated by Yale and Towne.
Established was a hospital/clinic on the corner of Pacific and Walnut Streets.
It provided for other social service needs as well, such as food and clothing.
History records "no restriction has been made as to religious connections, nationality or color, and no one has been refused admission for want of means to pay expenses, and never has an accident case been declined."
Charter was granted by the State of Connecticut to "care for the aged, sick, infirm, homeless and orphans."
St. John's Church House purchased the George A. Hoyt estate property at the northeast corner of Pacific and Woodland Place to accommodate the exploding needs.
Chapel of St. Luke the Physician was dedicated.
Edward Day Ferguson Memorial Building on the Pacific/Woodland site to house services to meet the expanding health, recreational and social service needs. An auditorium, gymnasium, housing and rooms for the hospital were contained therein. It was also referred to as St. John's Hospital and Home.
St. John's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Churches in cooperation with other civic-minded citizens inaugurated a project on East Main Street that was to become Stamford Hospital.
Redirected efforts to housing the aged and indigent congregants of both congregations.
Provided care for children who could not live with their families or had no family.
St. John's Church House and St. Luke's Chapel provided leadership in the development of "Associated Charities."
Became a center for immigrants under the Director of Americanization.
Became a center for diverse services; South Stamford Boy's Club, Mid-town Boxing Club, and a scout troop among others.
Forced to close its doors due to the depression and lack of funds.
Witnessed a resumption of work including new activities, building restoration and a reorganization of the governance structure.
Great Hurricane devastated the neighborhood, killing many persons and leaving others destitute and homeless. St. John's Church House was the center of the relief efforts.
St. John's Church House and its Ferguson Memorial Hall was used full time during World War II by sailors stationed at nearby Luders' Marine Construction (Brewer's Marina) and for the air raid wardens.
St. John's Church House and St. Luke's Chapel services expanded. Summer Girl Scout Camp, Over 60 Club and Community Center for neighborhood children flourished.
Buildings closed for lack of funds.
Re-opened through a recommitment of the membership of St. John's Episcopal Church offering outreach and worship services.
St. Luke's Community Center was established to serve the needs of children and families living in the neighborhood.
In cooperation with the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and area Episcopal congregations, the Institute Hispano Pastorale was established to serve the large Spanish speaking population living in the neighborhood.
St. John's Episcopal Church in cooperation with other Episcopal churches: Christ Church, Greenwich; St. Luke's Church, Darien; and St. Mark's Church, New Canaan, in cooperation with the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut formed the Community of St. Luke. The community took over the work of the Community Center and operated as an "intentional religious community."
An emergency shelter for the persons who were homeless opened.
Summer Camp for 120 inner-city children opened.
Food coop and food distribution programs were developed.
A furniture and clothing distribution center is opened in a warehouse on Market Street.
An after-school-tutoring program was offered.
Weekly Wednesday night worship and community meals drew members of area congregations together.
Volunteers and funding came from these churches and others.
The separation of the religious activities from the social and human services became necessary as a need for more resources became apparent and government and corporate entities would not fund "religious activities."
Episcopal Social Services of the Diocese of Connecticut provided management services at request of Diocese due to financial instability of the Community of St. Luke.
A supervised apartment program for persons with psychiatric disabilities is opened in 2 leased apartments.
Advisory Council decides to establish a new not-for-profit, non-sectarian entity – St. Luke’s Community Services.
Plan for residence for persons with psychiatric disabilities is developed in cooperation with area churches and local and state government.
Community of St. Luke becomes St. Luke's Community Services, a not-for-profit, non-sectarian, faith-based organization.
The Assistant Director of Episcopal Social Services (Rev. Richard Schuster) asked to come to Stamford for two days to determine if there is a basis for the organization to continue.
Rev. Schuster asked to become Executive Director.
Accepts effective April Fools Day.
Services reorganized. A shelter for families and women who had become homeless continues in operation.
The Gilead House Residential Program opens providing four three-bedroom apartment units for 13 persons with a history of psychiatric disabilities.
The McKinney Residence Program opens providing two three-bedroom apartment units serving 10 persons with AIDS.
Emergency Housing Apartment Program piloted.
Transitional Housing Program opens providing six two-bedroom apartment units for 24 men and women in transition.
People in Partnership (Family Partnership) program piloted.
City of Stamford requests SLLW to provide over-night shelter to women who are homeless. 21 women accommodated.
SLLW reaches beyond its capacity as families and women who are homeless needing shelter escalate. Alternatives for overflow sought.
SLLW acquires former YWCA building.
SLLW opens a Center for Families and Children at Franklin Common bringing 11 other agencies under one roof in order to provide a seamless service delivery system for families who had become homeless.
SLLW Opens 58 single room occupancy units for up to 128 persons in families in need of short term and transitional housing.
SLLW opens the Children's Community, a childcare center for 100 children with infant through after-school programming.
SLLW opens 12 single room occupancy units for 19 women who are single in need of short term and transitional housing.
SLLW centralizes its Social Services in order to streamline case management with clients.
SLLW establishes the LifeWorks EmployAbility Center to create job readiness skills training and job opportunities for clients it serves.
SLLW establishes the LifeWorks Life Skills Academy to teach appropriate life skills necessary for persons to become self-sufficient.
SLLW develops a prototype for outcome-based management working with the nationally known Rensselaerville Institute. It develops outcomes and benchmarks for all of its work.
Melville Charitable Trust issues challenge grant for the creation of an endowment for SLLW.
SLLW through its Fairfield Community Development Corporation opens 29 efficiency apartment units at the Colony for persons with special needs and low-income working persons.
St. Luke's Community Services changes its name to St. Luke's LifeWorks.
SLLW re-establishes its programs and services under the Center for Children and their Families, Center for Single Adults and Center for Persons with Special Needs.
FCDC will open 27 new efficiency apartment units at the Atlantic Park for persons
with special needs and low income working persons.
Now serving over 400 children each year.
The Children’s Community re-focuses to a school readiness orientation.
Director of Child Advocacy position created to protect interests of children.
EmployAbility Center and Life Skills Academy closed due to lack of funding.
Case Study on use of Outcome Management published in cooperation with the Rensselaerville Institute.
Nearly 1,000 persons served through 25,000 service interactions provided each year.
The xCHANGE opens. A store used to distribute in-kind goods to clients. Clients earn token dollars “Lucos” based on their successful completion of program milestones to make “purchases.
Affiliation completed with Bread & Roses, an AIDS service organization.
SLLW/B&R now co-located in 16 locations throughout Fairfield County.
SLLW/B&R establishes a Jail Diversion Program for persons with a history of psychiatric disabilities who have become involved with the criminal justice system.
SLLW/B&R takes over management of Metcalf House, a residence for persons coming out of homelessness on property owned by the Unitarian Church of Stamford, CT.
SLLW/B&R and its Fairfield Community Development Corporation commits to the development of 250 units of supportive housing over the next several years.
SLLW/B&R undertake a project with GE Capital and GE’s Six Sigma black belts to pilot the “re-engineering” of all of their programs and services to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.
SLLW/B&R “out sources" its operation of its child care program, The Children’s Community, to Bright Horizons.
The Melville Charitable Trust “forgives” the remaining indebtedness on the Center for Children and their Families – Franklin Common. A value exceeding $1.2 M.
SLLW/B&R open the Rose Park Apartments in collaboration with the City of Stamford. These apartments serve as an alternative living environment for those dislocated by lead abatement activities of the city.
SLLW/B&R, working with the Adkins Life Skills Institute, explores the creation of a Career Development Center targeted at the persons it serves.
Women of Vision adopt SLLW/B&R Family Program and will assist in redecoration of all its living environments as their first project.
SLLW/B&R takes over Metcalf House, a residence for persons coming out of homelessness on property owned by the Unitarian Church of Stamford, CT.
SLLW/BR begins renovation of its Life Long Living Center.
SLLW/BR receives approval for development of Bright Spaces, an indoor play area, for children living in Franklin Common. A collaborative project with Bright Horizons.
SLLW/BR experiences serious cash flow problems causing suspension of Life Long Learning initiative and The Children’s Community while maintaining core housing and outreach activities.
Completes renovation of Bright Spaces at Franklin Common.
Completes renovation of Life Long Learning Center.
Begins plans to relocate the McKinney Residence.
Based on changing demographics of HIV/AIDS population and current treatment options implements a non medical model of housing and service supports at Bread and Roses – Georgetown.
Receives funding for the complete renovation of Gilead House.
Finishing the fiscal year with a positive cash flow due to outstanding successes in our annual development efforts and the commitment of our employees.
SLLW completes a financial restructuring designed to provide both short and long term stability for the organization.
Completes renovation of Bright Spaces at Franklin Common and opens to Family
Housing participants and children.
Begins recruitment for a Manager of Children’s Services.
Resumes and completes renovation of Life Long Learning Center and opens to all program participants.
Agrees to sell the McKinney Residence to the Stamford Housing Authority for development of a supportive housing project for individual adults.
Begins and competes plans to relocate the McKinney Residence to 20 Woodland Place in property it owns. Included a renovation of the property. Participants move in April 2006.
Based on changing demographics of HIV/AIDS population and current treatment options, SLLW begins implementation of a non-medical model of housing and service supports at Bread and Roses – Georgetown.
Receives funding for and completes renovation of Gilead House.
Antares Development Co. buys 85 acres of property in south end for redevelopment.
McKinney Stamford residence relocates to the Woodland Campus.
Works progresses on Woodland campus redevelopment.
Suspension of development of Hoyt Street Family Supportive Housing initiative indefinitely due to high cost per unit. Partly caused by the massive development underway in the region.
Endowment reaches $3M with receipt of a $ 300,000 bequest.
Manager of Children’s Services hired.
Life Long Learning Program piloted.
LifeWorks Rocks – the British Invasion with the Fab Faux rocks Stamford and raises over $100,000 for our programs.
Developer of Highgrove donates property on Summer Street (adjacent to Franklin Common) to St. Luke’s LifeWorks in return for future development of 22 units of permanent supportive housing.
Development Consultant and Architect hired to assist in development of master plan for the highest and best use of all properties.
Celebration of Success which honors accomplishments of our program participants and tenants re-launched after 3 year hiatus.
(Note that this report contains pre-audited financials. For a complete audited copy of our financials, contact lmenon@learnaliving.org
Our Roots
Leveraging the Past – Changing the Future
128+ Year History
St. Luke's LifeWorks (St. Luke's Community Services DBA), located in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, is a faith-based, non-sectarian nonprofit. It is devoted to helping persons help themselves reach for their full human potential by providing integrated housing and supportive services. SLLW and its predecessor organizations have provided a variety of social services, human services, employment and housing options. Over 75,000 lives have been touched and changed.
CHRONOLOGY
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St. Luke's
LifeWorks
Where People Learn a Living
