Building a Stronger Foundation for What Comes Next

Fifth Street Ministries welcomed more than 140 community members on March 24, 2026, to our campus for a luncheon centered on connection, transparency, and the future of our work.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to join us - to listen, to ask questions, and to lean into a conversation that matters not just for Fifth Street, but for our entire community.

For nearly 40 years, Fifth Street Ministries has been built on a foundation of compassion, commitment, and the belief that individuals can rebuild their lives. What began as a shelter has grown into a full continuum of support - including emergency shelter, transitional housing, a tiny home community, veterans' services, street outreach across multiple counties, domestic violence services, and our Community Kitchen, where connection often begins.

During the luncheon, we also shared a clear and honest reality. Fifth Street currently manages 15 federal and state grants. While these grants are critical to sustaining key programs, they are also highly restrictive, complex, and never fully fund the true cost of the work. There are always gaps - in staffing, operations, and facility needs - that must be filled to ensure individuals receive consistent, high-quality support. Over time, this funding structure has limited our ability to build broader community-based support and has contributed to a cumulative deficit of $452,000 over the past decade.

As we shared with attendees, Fifth Street is now in a period of intentional evolution. As we empower individuals to achieve self-sufficiency, we must also build a model that allows our

organization to do the same. This means strengthening our foundation, making thoughtful decisions about where we focus, and exploring new approaches - including workforce development paired with earned income opportunities - that create both individual pathways forward and long-term organizational sustainability. It also means deepening partnership with our community in new and meaningful ways.

We need volunteers but not just for one-time moments. We need individuals and groups who are willing to commit consistently, help maintain our spaces, support operations, and step into the day-to-day realities of this work. We also need connectors - people willing to introduce us to others who can help solve problems, open doors, and expand what is possible. And importantly, we need investment. While grants fund programs, they do not provide the flexibility required to maintain facilities, respond to urgent needs, or build what comes next. Unrestricted support is what allows Fifth Street Ministries to close the gaps, strengthen operations, and invest in a sustainable future.

The luncheon was not intended to be a fundraising event. It was an opportunity to share, to listen, and to invite others into the work. But as we look ahead, the path forward is clear: A stronger, more sustainable Fifth Street will be built through partnership — through individuals and organizations who believe in this mission and are willing to invest in it.

Strong foundations are not built alone. They are built together — and they make everything that follows possible.

Continue the Conversation

If you feel inspired to support this work, we invite you to continue the conversation with us. Your partnership - whether through giving, volunteering, or connecting us to others - plays a critical role in strengthening what comes next. Please reach out to Todd Fowler at TFowler@FifthStreetMinistries.com to schedule a meeting with Todd or with Tamara Roach.

For those who would like to make a gift, you can do so using the Give Now button below. Every contribution helps us close the gaps, strengthen our foundation, and continue empowering individuals to achieve self-sufficiency.