What is the Threshold Fund?

The Saint Mark's Cathedral Threshold Fund is an important part of the cathedral's Housing Justice Ministries. Launched in 2018 as an initiative of Saint Mark's Homeless Advocacy Ministry, the fund helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing financial assistance with rental deposits and move-in costs, lowering the financial barrier to safe, permanent housing. It is administered in collaboration with Catholic Community Services. Please make a donation to the fund at saintmarks.org/give (choose "Threshold Fund" from the list of options.)

Saint Mark’s Threshold Fund Details

  • This fund provides qualified recipients with first and last month’s rent and security deposit— half as an outright gift, half as a loan to be repaid when they are able.
  • The average subsidy in each case is approximately $1600.
  • We partner with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to administer the program, which includes case management to ensure those in need obtain the support services from which they will benefit.
  • We pay a small fee to CCS to provide this service on our behalf, ensuring that we have professional staff vetting each case.

Threshold Fund Testimonials

"KT was referred from Katherine’s House, a women’s only recovery program run by CCS. KT is a single parent to three boys and she is also pregnant. She has worked hard during her time at Katherine’s House and was excited to be able to finally move into a home with her family, where she can continue her clean and sober life while raising her children in a safe environment."

"GH was referred to CCS by a new community partner, Lowell Elementary School. The School was working with a family of 5 who had been homeless and with the help of staff and social workers from the school found an apartment large enough for this family that was affordable with the new work they also helped the mother obtain. The family was able to move into an apartment just before summer break, which was the first time the family had housing all school year long.  These young children now have a stable home to go to after school every day."

UPDATE (November 2024)

Since 2018, the Threshold Fund has helped scores of individuals and families access safe, secure housing. The Fund provides qualified recipients with first and last month’s rent and security deposit, with the average subsidy being $1,600, administered in collaboration with Catholic Community Services. To date, nearly $200,000 has been used to support families through Saint Mark’s Threshold Fund, but the fund is nearly depleted currently.

If you’d like to make a gift to help continue this important part of our Housing Justice ministries, please do so on the cathedrals giving page (Choose "Threshold Fund" from the list of options ), or contact Erik Donner in the church office.

Annual Impact

2024 Threshold Fund Report

In 2024, Saint Mark's Threshold Fund helped move 13 families into housing during the pandemic. A total of almost about $13,449 in assistance was distributed. Your generosity makes this good work possible.

2023 Threshold Fund Report

In 2023, Saint Mark's Threshold Fund helped move 25 families into housing during the pandemic. A total of almost about $35,700 in assistance was distributed. Your generosity makes this good work possible.

2022 Threshold Fund Report

In 2022, Saint Mark's Threshold Fund helped move 21 families into housing during the pandemic. A total of almost about $30,500 in assistance was distributed, benefiting a total of 61 people. Your generosity makes this good work possible.

2021 Threshold Fund Report

In 2021, Saint Mark's Threshold Fund distributed about $27,000 in assistance, benefiting a total of 58 people. Your generosity makes this good work possible.

2020 Threshold Fund Report

In 2020, Saint Mark's Threshold Fund helped move 13 individuals to move out of homelessness into a safe secure home by providing the security deposit, first month’s rent, and application fees.

2019 Threshold Fund Report

Since launching the program in March 2019, 14 households (30 individuals in all) have received assistance totaling more than $17,300. The average assistance was $1,237.