Hope Lives Here — And So Can Change

At Fifth Street Ministries, we believe no one should face hunger, homelessness, or hopelessness alone. Since 1988, when Gary and Patti West first opened our parent organization - Diakonos, Inc. (a Greek word meaning "servant") - in Burnsville, North Carolina, the mission has remained simple yet powerful: to provide safety, nourishment, compassion, and a path toward self-reliance for those who need it most.

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Today, operating across Iredell County with campuses in Statesville, Troutman, and Mooresville, Fifth Street Ministries continues to serve as a lifeline for neighbors in crisis. Our campus on Fifth Street in Statesville sits at the heart of the community, offering people who have lost so much a warm meal, a safe bed, and the kindness that reminds them they matter.

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Over time, our services have grown to meet changing needs. In 1992, the organization assumed leadership of the Community Kitchen, formerly “The Soup Kitchen,” which now serves three hot meals every single day of the year—over 68,000 meals in 2024 alone. For many, this simple act of nourishment is the first step toward a better tomorrow.

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Our core programs are built on compassion and impact. The Emergency Shelter provides housing for up to 150 adults and families and supported 639 individuals last year. For veterans, our Transitional Housing program, launched in 2016 in partnership with the VA and local organizations, delivered housing, case management, and peer support to 61 veterans, honoring their service with stability and dignity. The PATH House connected with 210 chronically homeless individuals in 2024, offering outreach, basic needs, and mental health support. At My Sister’s House, survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking found shelter, advocacy, and counseling—over 700 individuals last year alone.

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Recognizing that housing stability is essential, Fifth Street also operates long-term solutions. Our Permanent Supportive Housing program provides homes and case management for chronically homeless individuals, while Rapid Rehousing assisted 71 households—130 people—in securing safe housing across five counties in 2024.

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The needs, however, remain great. In January, the Point-in-Time Count identified 84 people living in uninhabitable conditions in Iredell County. Each number reflects a neighbor facing extraordinary hardship, and each story is a reminder of why our doors must remain open.

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At Fifth Street Ministries, we know there are no quick fixes to poverty, abuse, or homelessness. But with every plate served, every night of shelter provided, and every word of encouragement shared, we walk beside people on their journey toward stability and hope. For more than three decades, we have been more than a shelter—we have been a community of care, rooted in faith and guided by compassion. Together with our supporters, we will continue changing lives, one person, one family, and one hopeful step at a time.