Bethany House first opened its doors to homeless women and children in 1977,  but its roots go back much further. The house was founded on the principles of the Catholic Worker Movement pioneered by Dorothy Day in the 1930s. This movement was predicated on the "radical" principle of hospitality towards one's neighbor, with no expectation of anything in return. Day and her cohorts committed themselves to seeking out surplus resources and redistributing them to those with practically nothing to their names -- remember, this was the Great Depression!

However, even today there remains a vast disparity between the "haves" and the "have-nots." The key to closing this gap is realizing that even the smallest leg up for those at the bottom increases the chances of upward economic mobility for them and their children. That leg up can take the form of food and hygiene products, temporary residence, rental assistance, or even just an ear to listen (as we offer at our Drop-In Center).

We are continually taking inspiration from the altruism of the Catholic Worker Movement as we operate Bethany House, from daily house routines to meetings of the Board of Directors. Every guest that comes into our house is treated with the same dignity and love that Dorothy Day envisioned for the world almost a century ago.

1111 Joseph Ave
Rochester, New York  14621
​(585) 454-4197