Who We Are
Gateway Housing Service Project is a faith-based ministry, open to all people, to inspire hope and provide service through volunteer minor home repair in the St. Louis metropolitan area while fostering servant hearts in St. Louis youth and adults.
Since 2017, we have worked with fire departments, rehabilitation facilities, and other agencies to identify and prioritize families or individuals in immediate need of ramps, grab bars, and other minor but vital home modifications.
Our mission is to transform lives by breaking down barriers to accessibility. Through ramps and thoughtful home modifications, we empower individuals to reclaim their independence, dignity, and joy in everyday living.
Vital home repair is provided by local youth and adults seeking to serve others through the faith-based ministry. GHSP provides meaningful volunteer opportunities for individuals, teams, companies, groups, and families of all ages. Homeowners and volunteers connect through these projects.
GHSP partners with local agencies to identify and prioritize families or individuals in immediate need of vital home repairs, modifications, or accessibility.
We also collaborate with corporations and local businesses to provide supplies and volunteers.
A letter from our executive director
Our Journey: Where We Started, Where We Are, and How You Can Help Us Keep Moving Forward
My first experience in volunteering was with the Appalachia Service Project in 2013, where I made home repairs and built ramps for those in need. During my seven years of week-long volunteering trips, I connected with a client or two and quite a few volunteers. I fell in love with helping others and being around those who have the same passion.
In 2015, I met Don Taylor, founder of Chesapeake Housing Mission. After several years and much discussion with Don, I decided to use my “carpentry” skills and desire to help others locally, so I founded GHSP in 2017. It took several years of finding our way, even with the guidance from Don and his seven years of experience in developing a service-based non-profit organization.
Looking back, I had no idea that accessibility resources are virtually non-existent for most. It is rare to hear of insurance covering a ramp or grab bar installation, so most individuals in need are on their own. Anyone not able to afford an average of $150 per month to rent a ramp or $4,000 to have one built faces a high chance of becoming homebound due to a disability or aging.
That’s why every donation and every volunteer hour makes such a powerful difference. By giving your time, skills, or resources, you help provide freedom, dignity, and independence to people who might otherwise feel trapped in their own homes. Together, we can build more than ramps—we can build hope, connection, and stronger communities for everyone.
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
our 2024 impact
Unique clients served
Total feet of ramp built
Unique clients served
volunteer hours
Total feet of ramp built
Unique clients served
Total feet of ramp built
Total feet of ramp built
Total feet of ramp built
Testimonials
"I can’t believe this ramp! I call the fire
department to get my husband out of the
house and now I won’t have to, I can’t thank
GHSP enough for what you have done for me
and my family!"
"Thanks and love to GHSP and everyone who helped and made this possible. I pray this ministry will be able to continue helping those that need it. It is truly a blessing. I try and thank God every time I roll up and down that ramp. Being able to go into my house by myself is an answered prayer."
Our Board
DARRYL STANFIELD
DARRYL STANFIELD
DARRYL STANFIELD
Darryl enjoys the outdoors and time with family and friends. His inspiration for starting the Gateway Housing Service Project came from volunteering with the Appalachia Service Project. Joining with others to help those in the community around him has become a passion. He enjoys meeting new people and listening to the story of their journ
Darryl enjoys the outdoors and time with family and friends. His inspiration for starting the Gateway Housing Service Project came from volunteering with the Appalachia Service Project. Joining with others to help those in the community around him has become a passion. He enjoys meeting new people and listening to the story of their journey. Darryl feels blessed to be working with a wonderful group of talented individuals.
STEVE MOORE
DARRYL STANFIELD
DARRYL STANFIELD
Steve is currently a construction superintendent for a large General Contractor in St. Louis and is nearing retirement. Wanting to stay active upon retiring and the desire to help people; he saw the opportunity to give back to the community using some of his carpenter craft skills and management experience. Steve was inspired by family and friends who volunteer for the Appalachia Service.
Alyssa Lincoln
Alyssa Lincoln
Alyssa Lincoln
Alyssa is passionate about rehabilitation, community integration, and disability rights which is what led her to volunteer with GHSP. She assisted in the creation of the WUSM's student-led interdisciplinary pro bono clinic and became connected with the organization volunteering at the clinic. During the week, you can find her practicing f
Alyssa is passionate about rehabilitation, community integration, and disability rights which is what led her to volunteer with GHSP. She assisted in the creation of the WUSM's student-led interdisciplinary pro bono clinic and became connected with the organization volunteering at the clinic. During the week, you can find her practicing full time as a Physical Therapist in Jennings, MO. On the weekend, she may be whippin' around on her moped, talking smack on the pickleball court, building a ramp, or walking dogs with friends. Alyssa looks forward to assisting the organization in growth, efficiency, and improving accessibility in our communities.
Meagan Proffit
Alyssa Lincoln
Alyssa Lincoln
Meagan is a huge fan of being outdoors and working with her hands, both of which led her to GHSP during her studies in occupational therapy at WashU. She's thrilled with the opportunities she has found here at GHSP to help others get outside their homes to both enjoy and expand their communities. Meagan loves to dance, wherever she can, i
Meagan is a huge fan of being outdoors and working with her hands, both of which led her to GHSP during her studies in occupational therapy at WashU. She's thrilled with the opportunities she has found here at GHSP to help others get outside their homes to both enjoy and expand their communities. Meagan loves to dance, wherever she can, including in the kitchen with her siblings, and is a fan of moving and grooving playing sports (rugby, tennis, frisbee) too.
Our Community Practice Advisory Board Members
Dr. Jess Dashner
Dr. Emily Somerville
Dr. Jess Dashner
OTD, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Washington University Occupational Therapy
For the past 13 years, Dr. Dashner worked as a research associate/project manager in the Disability and Community Participation Research Laboratory with David B. Gray, PhD, at Washington University in St. Louis. She currently mana
OTD, OTR/L
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Washington University Occupational Therapy
For the past 13 years, Dr. Dashner worked as a research associate/project manager in the Disability and Community Participation Research Laboratory with David B. Gray, PhD, at Washington University in St. Louis. She currently manages several research projects, including the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC-CL) to examine the influence of training providers and consumers of personal assistance on Health and Community Participation. Other current projects include a PVA Education Fund grant to develop a Self-Management for parents with SCI/D and a project through the National Science Foundation to help individuals with SCI explore opportunities in STEM careers. Dr. Dashner worked with Dr. Gray on developing and administering surveys of participation to individuals with mobility and sensory impairments including the PARTS, FABS, SPARC and CHEC. Additionally, she was Co-PI on a project titled, "Parenting with a Physical Disability: Assessing the Need for Early OT Intervention and Group Support" through the St. Louis Community-University Health Research Partnerships (CUHRP).
Dr. Sue Tucker
Dr. Emily Somerville
Dr. Jess Dashner
OTD, OTR/L, ATP
Instructor in Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Washington University Occupational Therapy
Dr. Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University in 2000. There, she was a member of three NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship teams and a member of the women’s softball team in their inaugural NCAA se
OTD, OTR/L, ATP
Instructor in Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Washington University Occupational Therapy
Dr. Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University in 2000. There, she was a member of three NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship teams and a member of the women’s softball team in their inaugural NCAA season. She is a member of the Washington University Sports Hall of Fame. Dr. Tucker earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in 2002 and her doctoral degree in occupational therapy in 2014. Since 2003, she has worked for the Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University in various capacities including as a researcher, staff therapist and educator. Dr. Tucker has been involved in various research projects as a research interventionist, research coordinator and as principal investigator. She has provided clinical evaluations and intervention services as an occupational therapist for over 16 years. She has served in an educator capacity in the Program in Occupational Therapy for more than 12 years in various courses for the MSOT and OTD degree programs. Dr. Tucker is a member of the Clinician Task Force, which is a national group of experienced seating and mobility clinicians that work to inform and promote public policy, best practices and positive outcomes regarding people with disabilities who require seating, positioning and mobility products. She has more than 20 years of experience in coaching adaptive sports and was the assistant coach of the USA Wheelchair Rugby from 2013 to 2021. She has served as the head coach of the St. Louis Spartans wheelchair rugby team since 2001. She is certified as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP).
Dr. Emily Somerville
Dr. Emily Somerville
Dr. Emily Somerville
OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Washington University Occupational Therapy
After earning a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 2005, Dr. Somerville joined Dr. Susan Stark’s Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory (PEPL). Th
OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology
Washington University Occupational Therapy
After earning a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 2005, Dr. Somerville joined Dr. Susan Stark’s Participation, Environment and Performance Laboratory (PEPL). The lab aims to advance the practice of occupational therapy by conducting clinical trials as well as developing evidence-based guidelines followed by translating the findings into everyday clinical practice by identifying and resolving barriers to implementation. As a member of PEPL, Dr. Somerville is the lead occupational therapy interventionist and implements study interventions research participants in the various studies conducted in the lab. She also trains occupational therapists in the community to deliver evidence-based interventions developed by PEPL. Additionally, she is a study coordinator for a study that aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel enhanced rehabilitation-transition program to reduce environmental barriers and improve daily performance and community participation
support us
Help our mission and your community through GHSP. Donate today! No amount too is too small.