Joseph House Crisis Center
The Crisis Center provides emergency and on-going assistance for individuals and families in need. It opened in 1984 to serve the poor from the Lower Shore counties of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
The Crisis Center is located at 812 Boundary Street in Salisbury, Maryland. The phone number is 410-749-4239.
Through direct charitable assistance, the Crisis Center offers hope and support to people struggling with the burdens of poverty. The overriding goal is to affirm the self-worth and dignity of those who come here and to help them achieve a level of independent living.
The Crisis Center has four departments:
- Financial Assistance for evictions, utility cut-offs, health care bills, and other vital needs.
- Food Pantry that distributes supplemental bags of groceries to families and individuals in need.
- Dining Room serving a hot lunch that is available for anyone. A dozen churches in the Salisbury area take turns preparing and serving the meals.
- Hospitality Room for the Homeless, a day shelter for homeless men and women where they can receive food and clothing, take a shower, and have clothes laundered.
For hours of operation, please go to If You Need Help.
The reach of the Crisis Center extends across the Delmarva Peninsula. The Crisis Center is usually the last resort for people who have nowhere else to go for help.
Our services are based on need. With the help of our volunteer staff, we evaluate each request for help and determine the best way that we can respond. Approximately1,500 requests for financial assistance are answered each year.
The Crisis Center depends on Divine Providence for its operation. All funding comes from private donations. The Crisis Center does not receive funds from the United Way or the state or federal government. Sr. Mary Elizabeth, our founder, hated red tape and money with strings attached. She also believed in the importance of individuals making a personal sacrifice to help their neighbors in need.
Those who come to the Hospitality Room are homeless for a variety of reasons. At the Hospitality Room, they receive acceptance, encouragement, and support for seeking the help they need. It is a place of community.
Sometimes our visitors need a place to rest and sleep because they have been awake all night living on the streets. Other enjoy watching inspirational movies or talking with the Little Sisters and our volunteers.
