Shepherd’s Gate

Description

Shepherd’s Gate is a Christian nonprofit on a mission to free women and children from the destructive cycles of homelessness, addiction and abuse. Their mission is to meet the practical, spiritual, and emotional needs of battered and homeless women and children through the love of Jesus Christ, equipping them to lead a life of faith, hope, and love and to reach out to others in His name.

History

AliceAnn Cantelow dreamed of hiking the Pacific Trail when she retired, but God seemed to have an entirely different adventure in mind. What began as a quiet nagging feeling became a call she couldn’t ignore: AliceAnn knew God was asking her to help the homeless.

That first year, AliceAnn started small: she helped families from her own 2-bedroom home. But she knew more women and children still needed help.

The next year, in 1984, AliceAnn purchased a larger home in Livermore with the help of a few other couples in the community. That 3-bedroom home provided women and children with up to 30 days of safe shelter.

In October of 1992, Shepherd’s Gate was forced to turn more than 500 women and children away due to a lack of space. In the face of such great need, AliceAnn and her team began plans to build a 3-acre Shepherd’s Gate campus in Livermore, California. They wanted to move beyond 30-day stays to provide long-term care for many more women and children.

In 1996, AliceAnn retired, and now another act of obedience was required. Steve and Carla McRee sensed God calling them to guide this fledgling nonprofit through what they knew would be a challenging period of growth. They moved halfway across the country and have served as our Executive and Associate Directors ever since.

In May of 2000, the first phase of the Livermore campus opened, providing a home for up to 25 women and children at a time. By 2006, a second Residence Hall and 5 2-bedroom cottages were added, bringing the full capacity to 70.

In 2004, Signature Properties offered to build Shepherd’s Gate a 7,600 square foot campus in Brentwood — and amazingly, they donated it free of charge! Shepherd’s Gate Brentwood opened its doors in January of 2006, and cares for up to 25 women and children at a time.