Seafarers International

2023 Annual Report Highlights
Seafarers International House

MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Into the Faithful Future

Dear friends of Seafarers International House (SIH):

“Though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.” Job 8:7

In 2023, Seafarers International House celebrated its 150th anniversary of un-interrupted service to well over two million people. Starting humbly with one pastor in 1873, we have been fulfilling our mission of being the Lutheran response to the urgent needs of vulnerable seafarers and immigrants, or more succinct: of welcoming in the stranger.

Reflecting on our past, of the evolution of our services, always adapting, often moving physically from one guesthouse building to the next, we have reaffirmed that Seafarers International House is not a place but a service. In 2023, we welcomed fifty asylum seekers and provided them with free lodging and assistance from our new Social Worker, Michael Bradford, who collaborates with me tirelessly to make people who escaped violence and persecution feel at home, enabling many to become contributing members of their new homeland. We also offered 159 seafarers, often young mariners starting their careers or senior seafarers transitioning into retirement, affordable accommodations as they prepared for their next 3-6 months voyage or starting a new chapter of life, respectively.

During 2023, we strengthened our partnership with the Albany Maritime Ministry with Pastors Kate Drefke and Lowell Chilton and hired Rev. Jonathan Westerlund to aid in the busy port of New Jersey & New York. In all ports, including Baltimore and New Haven, we visited 1,094 ships with 12,522 crew members, bringing onboard essentials and being present and transporting 2,061 of these seafarers to the mall or medical facilities.

Thanks to many individuals, including youth and business groups, and congregations, a record 3,216 seafarers regardless of their faith felt some Holiday cheer when they opened their Christmas-at-Sea satchels filled with warm clothing and season’s greetings, letting them know that we appreciate their sacrifices while they transport 90% of the things we use. Just look at the faces on the cover of this report and you can see the joy you have spread!

With our partners in the shipping industry, ship owners, and unions we celebrated our 150th anniversary at the Setting the Course Reception breaking an income record of over $250,000 in crucial support of our Port Mission and subsidized lodging for mariners. We are grateful for the 2023 honorees John Atkins (Global Container Terminals), Mark W. Barker (Interlake Maritime Services), and Adam Vokac (Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association).

Yet, we also used the anniversary year to address future concerns. Through strategic planning involving all board members as well as members of the communities we serve, we determined that the current arrangement of renting our guesthouse to Breaking Ground furthers our mission by providing vital income to help us expand the port mission while continuing excellent lodging to asylum seekers and seafarers at the Markle Residence of the Salvation Army. This formula will allow us to save funds, complemented with donations from a comprehensive campaign, to eventually purchase a new mission-based home with over eleven guest rooms by 2026, or earlier, if a cost-effective opportunity arises.

Please browse our web site (SIHNYC.org) for more details. I thank all of you who supported our essential services to “the stranger” through 2023. -from small beginnings to a faithful future sharing God’s justice, welcome, and love.
Marsh Luther Drege

MISSION
Seafarers International House (SIH) is the Lutheran response to the urgent needs of vulnerable seafarers and immigrants.
SIH offers hospitality, social assistance, and advocacy to a multi-national and multi-faith community in maritime ports on the Eastern Seaboard, Albany and in New York City.

2023 Program Impact

• 18,005 immigrants and seafarers directly benefited from SIH services
• 2,297 lodging nights (up from 1,764) provided to 156 seafarers in Manhattan
• 12,522 seafarers were visited and counseled on 1,094 ships, receiving essentials they requested
• 2,061 seafarers were transported to a mall or medical facilities
• 3,216 seafarers, regardless of faith, received Christmas-at-Sea satchels filled with warm clothing and holiday greetings prepared by volunteers to recognize these essential workers. This exceeds last year’s record of 2,915!
• 50 asylum seekers received free lodging for a total of 766 nights. They hailed from Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Chad, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Jamaica, Liberia, Libya, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Sudan, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Venezuela

2023 Financial Report

In accordance with our 2024-2028 strategic plan, operating gains help to build reserves for a new property ($1M) with mission-based guest rooms and offices and to allow for capital repairs on the guesthouse ($400,000), which is leased to Breaking Ground, which offers transitional housing to the community. That lease revenue supports our mission to seafarers and immigrants. Donations remain a vital pillar of income support our services and future expansion.
Program services and reserves accounted for 88% of expenses with only 12% spent on support services and fundraising. Net Assets increased from $8,258,768 in 2022 to about $10 million. These figures reflect_ unaudited revenue and expenses and are subject to change_. To request the audited 2023 financial statements send an email to henryk@sihnyc.org.