Who We Are

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” Jeremiah 29:11

Our Mission

Shepherd’s Gate exists to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of women and children suffering from homelessness, addiction and domestic violence through the love of Jesus Christ, equipping them to lead lives of faith, hope and love, and to reach out to others in His name.

Our Vision

Shepherd’s Gate specializes in providing safe places where women and their children can discover healing and freedom from life-controlling trauma issues through the power of Jesus Christ. (Single adult women and mothers) Together with community partners, we are committed to empower and equip women to transform their lives with a lifetime commitment to recovery.

The Shepherd's Gate difference:

What Sets Our Program Apart

Shepherd’s Gate helps women and children escape abuse, addiction, sex trafficking, and homelessness. We are so much more than a shelter. Through the support of friends like you, women and children have safe shelter, meals, and a long-term 12-16 month Christ-centered residential program that helps in every area of their lives: physical, spiritual, emotional, parenting, education & career, legal, financial, family reunification, etc. Plus we have a full program for children so they too can find healing and thrive in life. We are one of the few programs for older children. With the help of donors, foundations, churches and corporations, this program is completely free for women that are in critical need.

It all started with AliceAnn's commitment

The Shepherd's Gate Story

Many of us look at a problem like “homelessness” and think: this is way too big for me. California native AliceAnn Cantelow looked at it and thought: I’ll do what I can and trust God to do the rest. Shepherd’s Gate began in 1983 out of AliceAnn’s tiny 2-bedroom home and since then has helped over 15,000 women and their children find hope and healing.

1983

The Beginning of Shepherd's Gate

AliceAnn started small: she had a calling on her life to help families from her own 2-bedroom home near Sunol, CA. But she knew there were so many more women and children that still needed help.

1984

Purchase of Livermore Home

In 1984, AliceAnn purchased a larger home in Livermore with the help of a few other couples in the community. This 3-bedroom home provided women and children with up to 30 days of safe shelter. She officially formulated Shepherd’s Gate as a 501c3 non-profit.

October 1992

Planning for a Growing Need

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

1996

A Change in Leadership

In 1996, AliceAnn retired, and now another act of obedience was required. Steve and Carla McRee sensed God calling them to guide this nonprofit through what they knew would be a challenging period of growth.

May 2000

Opening of the Livermore Campus

In May of 2000, the first phase of the Livermore campus opened, providing a home for up to 25 women and children. By 2005, a second Residence Hall and 5 graduate cottages were added, bringing the full capacity to help 70 individuals. Our Alumni transitional cottages were made possible with the help of HomeAid of Northern California and Shea Homes.

January 2006

Brentwood Campus Opens it's Doors

In 2004, Signature Properties custom-built Shepherd’s Gate a 7,600 sq. ft. home in Brentwood, CA for only one dollar. This allowed us to open our second campus in January of 2006. Shepherd’s Gate began with AliceAnn’s small act of obedience 30 years prior, but our efforts on behalf of homeless women and children continue today because countless other friends, volunteers, and donors have also said “yes” to God’s call.

January 2018

Shepherd's Gate new Executive Director

In 2018, Carol Patterson became the new Chief Executive Officer of Shepherd’s Gate. Carol’s expertise in nonprofit ministry, finance, and operations positions her to be a visionary leader for our organization. However, her tremendous passion for homeless and abused women and children in the Bay Area is her most important asset. She has been called by God to advance the organization just like her predecessor.

June 2021

Brentwood Expansion Phases

In 2020, we launched a 3 phase plan to expand our Brentwood campus. Phase 1 was completed in June, 2021 with a new learning & career center, after school program, and two additional offices for case management. This was made possible with the help of Signature Properties and HomeAid of Northern California. We are in the planning stage for Phase 2 to add transitional cottages for our alumni, and Phase 3 will add an onsite playground for the children.

"I love seeing women come into the knowledge of who they are in Christ and who He is to them…seeing them healed, restored, delivered, and walking in freedom."

“The amount of love I receive here is more than I received my whole life from my family."

“The more time I spent at Shepherd’s Gate, the more I fell in love with everyone there,” Julie says. “I got to know many women in crisis. I realized the one thing they had in common is the need to be heard, loved and believed in.”