our Mission and team

About Us

We have assembled a powerful and compassionate team of community leaders to guide the development of The Well at this critical juncture in our history. They collectively bring a wealth of experience and expertise working with vulnerable populations and developing strong partnerships in the community. One hundred percent of our board members have financially invested in the success of The Well.

Learn About Our Board

Board of Directors

Christopher Brown

Learn more.

Amy Bartels Roe

Learn more.

Jason Kenney

Learn more.

Waheed Akbar, M.D.

Learn more.

Donna Clarke

Learn more.

Joe Hernandez

Learn more.

Toby Long, M.D.

Learn more.

Oscar Mendoza

Learn more.
The Well of Saginaw
313221182_101931409403481_4334421223506030093_n
313410767_101931386070150_7117163365269125124_n
313401300_101931402736815_5005157226451001643_n
314385061_101793729417249_4001847536141387315_n
313406836_101793652750590_8631808010204696718_n
313425365_101793882750567_3521516283199214158_n

How It Started...

Est. 2022

Welcome to The Well, a brand-new shelter and home for men experiencing homelessness in Saginaw.

Nearly the entire rehab project was completed with donated materials and volunteer labor, helping us direct more funds to our services. We have worked closely with both Emmaus House and Mustard Seed Shelter on setting up our program.

Our Progress

Opened in 2023

Now open! See some of the early renovation photos here – you can see photos of the completed home in the News & Events section.

318309122_118743737722248_769721070324623325_n
318423088_118743697722252_8497687402599125114_n
318344191_118743667722255_2912379141865166496_n
318459599_118743627722259_6291371740151432341_n
318417828_118743577722264_6359717486344210307_n
317984454_117709181159037_6149646507180147927_n
313902084_101793586083930_7852583896278114792_n
314466123_101793902750565_6324234379871346625_n
314400480_101793899417232_1587442448516010375_n

Welcoming Home + One-On-One Support

A New Type of Shelter

Our vision is to follow in the footsteps of Saginaw’s Emmaus House and Mustard Seed Shelter in creating a homelike setting where we can offer on-on-one support and help each guest develop a customized plan for success that meets them where they are.

important things you should know

About The Well of Saginaw

During the earliest days of planning and visioning, the idea of using a well as the symbol for this new ministry kept coming up with our founders. Water and wells have great significance in many faith traditions – connected to creation as well as cleaning, healing and renewal. Our name and logo were inspired by numerous references to wells in the Bible. We envision our home and organization as a source of living water – providing help, hope, healing and love. The starburst at the top of the well in our logo signifies light, specifically coming out of darkness into the light. 

The Well is rooted in the faith of our founders and inspired by scripture, but we are not connected directly to a specific church or institution. Guests will not be proselytized, nor will faith of any kind be a requirement for entering or remaining in our shelter. All are welcome at The Well.

We are working closely with both Emmaus House and The Mustard Seed Shelter on setting up our program, and we are incredibly grateful for their support, encouragement and partnership. Both of their directors serve on our board!

 

Our ultimate goal is to end homelessness and we realize there is no one-size-fits-all solution to do so. We honor the good work done by the current shelters and many others in our community and we look forward to partnering with all of Saginaw’s shelters to care for those who are unhoused, lost, lonely and hurting.

Our hope is to follow in the footsteps of Mustard Seed Shelter and Emmaus House in creating a homelike setting where we can offer on-on-one support and help each guest develop a customized plan for success that meets them where they are.

The Well has capacity to shelter up to 10 single men (age 18+). We’ve been asked if we will accept fathers with their children. Initially, The Well of Saginaw is planned for single men only, but as God continues to work, we hope to be blessed to offer additional options in the future.

Christopher Brown
Chair

Chris is a certified peer recovery coach at TRI-CAP, a probation residential center that offers an alternative placement option to jail or prison for male or female offenders within the state of Michigan. He also serves on the board of directors for Restoration Community Outreach (RCO), Saginaw’s only other shelter exclusively for men.
“When Bert approached me to help start a new shelter for men, I didn’t even hesitate. I jumped in with both feet.

But through my work with our two other shelters that serve men, I have seen the need for a homelike environment for men experiencing homelessness similar to what Mustard Seed and Emmaus House offer. A place where men who want to move forward and be productive have another option. A family of staff and volunteers to put them in motion, going toward their goals, teaching skills and helping them achieve things. This is the environment we envision for The Well.”
Previous slide
Next slide
Amy Bartels Roe
Vice Chair

Amy is executive director of Mustard Seed Shelter, which serves single women and women with children experiencing homelessness. Amy’s passion for welcoming any person experiencing homelessness with the utmost dignity and respect is a driving force behind this project. As part of its tithing and community goodwill initiative, Mustard Seed is providing both financial support and mentoring to The Well.
"The way The Well has come together … it’s clearly driven by the Spirit. In my work at Mustard Seed – and truly, just being out in the community – I see daily the need for men coming from homelessness and lives of brokenness. We know what has worked for us for 27 years at Mustard Seed, and our hope is that guests of The Well will also do well in a homelike environment, within a community of staff, volunteers and other guests who genuinely care for one another. We are honored to walk alongside Emmaus House in support of this work and pass along some of what we have learned.”
Previous slide
Next slide
Jason Kenney
Treasurer

Jason is an Enrolled Agent (EA), a federally authorized tax practitioner who has owned and operated his own tax/accounting firm since 2006. He has a deep passion for living the message of the Gospel and lends his significant financial acumen to putting our startup organization on sound footing.
“I’ve been involved with The Well since its inception. My uncle Bob introduced me to Bert and a small group of us started meeting quite some time ago to discuss the idea of a different type of shelter for men. When we decided to move forward, I filed the paperwork with the IRS for the 501(c)(3).  

Giving back is part of who I am. I went to DePaul University, and service and giving back are core to Vincentian values and beliefs. When I was in Chicago, I volunteered in several soup kitchens, shelters and housing organizations and in my experience, there is not enough emphasis on shelters for men. That seems to be true in general. I believe The Well will be a place to help men form connections. There’s such a need in Saginaw, so when I was asked to help make The Well a reality, I said, ‘Absolutely – let’s do this!’”
Previous slide
Next slide
Waheed Akbar, M.D.
Founding Board Member

Waheed is an orthopedic surgeon and community volunteer who has been a part of the Saginaw community for more than 40 years. He strives to improve social justice, create equality, and help vulnerable and marginalized people on different levels. His main focus has been to bring the underprivileged back into society as productive citizens
“It breaks my heart when I think of people who are homeless on the coldest days of our winter, while we are comfortable living in our homes. Often because of no fault – or small mistakes – of theirs, they are homeless. We who are living a life of privilege should be out there trying to do the best we can for people in our community who do not have roofs over their heads and do not know where their next meal is coming from. I have always believed that a chain – or society – is as strong as its weakest link or weakest member. Helping the underprivileged helps our whole society and improves the community we live in.

I believe wholeheartedly that The Well of Saginaw will fill these gaps through the life-saving and life-changing work that are at the core of our mission.”
Previous slide
Next slide
Donna Clark​
Founding Board Member

Donna is the director of Emmaus House, which operates five homes for women coming from jail, prison or rehab. Emmaus House generously donated the home currently being remodeled to welcome The Well’s first guests. Donna is a certified substance abuse disorder recovery coach.
“When I first learned about The Well and saw the team involved, I worked with our board to donate a house – struggling men need help in this community, too. Because of the success we’ve seen with our women in a small, structured and loving home environment, I believe The Well can achieve the same thing – knocking out homelessness but also substance abuse.

You need people who genuinely care and understand what you’re going through and people who believe in you. And you have to give people a purpose. Give them confidence. Give them hope. Help them find happiness. Emmaus House, Mustard Seed and The Well – we’re all in the business of saving lives and I see so much potential to partner with each other.”
Previous slide
Next slide
Joe Hernandez
Founding Board Member

Joe is a math professor at Delta College. He has been active in various community outreach programs, including jail ministry. Joe uses his past life experiences as both testimony and education in order to encourage and ensure a sense of belonging for his students and members of the community. He was named 2023 recipient of Delta College’s Spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. award.
“In working as an assistant jail chaplain at the Saginaw County Jail for nearly 20 years, I have observed that more resources are definitely needed for men experiencing homelessness. It seems that men are last on the list when it comes to getting aid. I’m really excited about the unique approach The Well will bring – we’ll work with the men one on one in an environment where all are challenged to change as an integral part of the program, not an optional service. We really need this in our community.”
Previous slide
Next slide
Toby Long, M.D.
Founding Board Member

Toby serves as Director of Medical Education for Great Lakes Bay Health Centers and family physician at Roosevelt Ruffin Health Center, where The Well’s guests will receive physical and mental health services as well as substance use disorder treatment when needed.
“As a physician serving Saginaw’s south side for the past 11 years with Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, I’m thrilled to support The Well.

The Well offers a new and exciting path to address needs in the community that go beyond the scope of my medical practice. I love what I do as a physician because it blesses me with the opportunity to see people make good choices and live healthier lives. I’m involved with The Well because I think our community needs a home-like environment that provides men the space and stability they need to make better choices and live better lives.

I believe The Well promises to offer men health and healing on a life-changing level – I’ll write that prescription any day!”
Previous slide
Next slide
Oscar Mendoza
Founding Board Member

Oscar has nearly 30 years of jail ministry experience, including 8 years as chaplain of the Saginaw County Jail. He continues to help men reestablish themselves in the community, inspiring them to become positive examples for others. Oscar was also a recipient of the 2015 Bishop Murphy award.
“Society says a man should be the leader or a manager and in control of his life and when he’s not, there’s very little understanding or help for him. So many of the men I’ve worked with have never known home or family … or love or forgiveness. And when they find themselves homeless, they find a lot of muddy water on the way to get to where they want to go.

At The Well, we will provide a home and be their family and help them build self-esteem and feel valued. We’ll give them a better chance for success.”
Previous slide
Next slide