The Louisville Council of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul has offered food, shelter, and hope in the Louisville area since 1853. The Council, in 1983, decided to begin a number of special works on its inner-city campus to address larger issues such as hunger, homelessness and addiction. The scope of services has evolved since that time and St. Vincent de Paul currently operates twelve programs offering emergency shelter to permanent housing for approximately 300 homeless or formerly homeless individuals and families.
The downtown Louisville campus also operates the Open Hand Kitchen which serves two meals a day, lunch and dinner, to guests, residents and the surrounding community. Further, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences continue to serve those in need throughout the Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana region. Forty-six Conferences with approximately 900 Vincentians work at the neighborhood level to assist with needs such as food, medication, rent, or utilities. Finally, De Paul Thrift Stores serve the Louisville and Southern Indiana communities operating four stores: Preston Street, Market Street, Hikes Lane in Louisville and E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy in Clarksville, IN.