In the spirit of love and justice, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Santa Clara County (SVdP) work to help our neighbors in need. We deliver Safety-Net services for families and individuals in our community who are often suffering, forgotten and deprived: the working poor, the homeless, the incarcerated, and all people living on the margins. We also seek systemic change solutions to move people out of poverty. SVdP respects the dignity of every person.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris in 1833, by a young French student, Frédéric Ozanam, to confront his city’s devastating poverty. Inspired by St. Vincent de Paul, a 17th century French priest who had an untiring commitment to serving the poor, Ozanam’s mission was clear – help the needy on a one-to-one basis and “accomplish through charity what justice alone cannot do.” Compassion in action was the heart of Frederic Ozanam’s spirituality.