Friendship House is a non-profit Christian corporation committed to making a difference in the lives of the homeless people of New Castle County, Delaware through the traditional spiritual ministries of hospitality, education, empowerment and community.

Christian Character

While Friendship House espouses no religion or political ideology, it will minister to others out of a specifically Christian context.

Through its leadership and its programs it will strive to build bridges between the Christian community and the homeless community in Wilmington.

Hospitality

Friendship House will always strive to treat people like persons rather than problems.

It will offer those services that enable the homeless to maintain their identity and self-esteem.

It will welcome any volunteer who desires to walk with the homeless in the spirit of Friendship House.

Empowerment

Friendship House will refer the homeless to those agencies that can give them the professional help that they need to overcome the root causes of their condition.

It will seek to complement rather than compete with existing homeless services through a spirit of cooperation and by developing programs that fill in the gaps in the homeless service network.

Since housing represents a primary need of any recovering homeless person, Friendship House will put special emphasis on developing transitional housing programs.

Friendship House will also strive to empower local churches and community organizations to get involved in homeless ministry by providing them with consultation, education and management services.

Education and Advocacy

Through various public forums, Friendship House will seek to broaden the community's perspective of the homeless crisis in America.

Through the participation of church volunteers in our various ministries, Friendship House will seek to help all people see their stake in the social concerns of the homeless and the marginalized of our community.

Since the poor and the marginalized are often their own best advocates, Friendship House will create arenas for community interaction like our hospitality centers, our weekly breakfasts and our partnering program.

Friendship House will strive to raise people's consciousness to the structural socio-economic injustices that are the primary causes of homelessness. It will encourage its supporters to get involved in these justice issues.

Community

Through every aspect of its ministry Friendship House will encourage people to discover what unites them as children of God. To the extent possible it will always seek to develop peer relationships among staff, volunteers and homeless folks who represent our one community.