Feeding the Spirit

About Feeding the Spirit
Founded in 2011, Feeding the Spirit provides flexible, compassionate, and dignity-centered support to individuals and families experiencing poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability in Westmoreland County. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to meet people where they are, listen deeply to their stories, and respond quickly with care and respect.

Key Programs & Supports

1. Meals and More Program
Serving more than 13,000 meals annually, each Thursday provides not only nutrition, but a life-line to essential personal care and hygiene items, and a trusted touchpoint where guests can share concerns and staff can immediately connect them to additional supports.

2. Homelessness Prevention & Rent Assistance
In 2025 alone, FTS supported over 500 individuals/families by providing rent assistance to fill a critical gap when other systems cannot respond quickly enough, most being resolved for under $200.

3. Urgent Needs Funds
FTS responds to urgent, daily needs, covering everything from transportation for medical appointments, to food emergencies, to fees for necessary documentation like birth certificates, etc., to enable people to access governmental supports.

4. Safe Space Now! Temporary Emergency Shelter

Safe Space Now! is Feeding the Spirit’s rapid-response program that provides immediate support to individuals and families facing a housing crisis. Community members are provided with budget hotel vouchers (often for 2 nights), due to overcrowding in shelters.

#ONEDAY Critical Needs focus area of Eviction Prevention and Housing

Since 2015, FTS has operated its Housing Stabilization Through Rent Assistance Program, offering direct financial assistance for overdue rent, security deposits, first month's rent, and other housing-related expenses that enable households to remain safely housed or transition from homelessness into permanent housing. FTS responds to requests within 24 hours and typically resolves cases within 7–10 days, ensuring timely intervention before a housing crisis escalates. In 2025 alone, FTS provided rent assistance to 514 individuals and families, helping them avoid eviction and maintain housing stability. The organization also provided emergency shelter to 828 individuals for a total of 967 nights, offering immediate safety and stability to those experiencing housing emergencies. Beyond financial assistance, FTS works directly with landlords to negotiate payment plans, reduce late fees, and identify practical solutions that prevent displacement. Through collaboration with approximately 28 community partners, FTS leverages resources to create comprehensive housing solutions that address both immediate and long-term needs. The organization has maintained a 65% housing retention rate at six-month follow-up, demonstrating the effectiveness of its intervention model. Serving many individuals who fall outside traditional eligibility requirements for government assistance, FTS fills critical gaps in the social safety net, ensuring that working families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those experiencing temporary financial hardship can remain safely housed and connected to their communities.

Client Impact Story

The true impact of this program is reflected in the stories of the individuals and families we serve. Recently, a family arrived at our weekly meal distribution with their three young children, all of whom had been sleeping in their family van during the cold winter months. The children were especially excited to receive fresh fruit, something they had gone without while living in their vehicle during frigid temperatures. Because the meal distribution serves as an important point of connection, FTS volunteers were able to speak with the parents and learn more about their situation. Through this conversation, we discovered that the family needed more than just a meal. FTS was able to immediately step in and secure a three-night hotel stay through our Safe Space Now! emergency shelter program, providing the family with warmth, safety, and valuable time to secure longer-term housing. This story illustrates how the weekly meal program does far more than address hunger—it creates opportunities to identify urgent needs and connect families with life-changing resources.