Peter & Paul Community Services, a nonprofit that provides housing and support services to people who are homeless, will have a new chief executive early next month.

The organization hired Anthony D’Agostino, former CEO of St. Patrick Center, as its next CEO.

He will succeed Steve Campbell, who has served as PPCS’ CEO for over 36 years. Campbell informed the organization’s board last June that he planned to retire at the end of June 2023, he told the Business Journal in an email.

D’Agostino, who began working part time at PPCS on May 9, will become CEO on June 5, according to Campbell, who said he will stay on until the end of June to help with the transition.

Under Campell’s tenure, PPCS grew from a single, volunteer-run seasonal shelter to a nonprofit providing two emergency shelters, two transitional programs, and permanent supportive housing, as well as social services and clinical care, Mike Banahan, board president, said in an email last week to donors and other stakeholders.

PPCS considered over 50 candidates from around the nation for the position, Banahan said.

“We are confident that Anthony will take Peter & Paul to the next level in delivering professional, compassionate services to those struggling with homelessness,” Banahan stated.

D’Agostino had served as CEO of St. Patrick Center, a nonprofit organization that provides services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, since January 2020. He previously served as executive director of Criminal Justice Ministry, a nonprofit providing services to people being released from incarceration, since 2016. Prior to that, D’Agostino was chief program officer at Springboard to Learning, a nonprofit that provides educational programs for children.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology and philosophy from Saint Louis University, a master’s degree in theology from SLU and a master’s in public administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. D’Agostino also holds a doctorate in education from SLU.

Among D’Agostino’s first tasks as PPCS’ CEO will be hiring a new chief operating officer, officials said. Last month, the nonprofit’s current COO, Adam Cisroe Pearson, was appointed director of the Department of Human Services for the city of St. Louis, effective May 30.

PPCS has a current operating budget of $5.7 million, according to Campbell. The organization provides housing and people who are homeless, especially those who experience mental illness or live with HIV. It currently has a contract to operate the city-owned Biddle Housing Opportunities Center, a year-round, 24-hour, 101-bed emergency shelter for homeless, single adult men, at 1212 N. 13th St. PPCS also operates its 60-bed Soulard Shelter, a year-round, night-time emergency shelter for homeless, single adult men, at 711 Allen Ave. in the basement of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church.

As PPCS’ new CEO, D’Agostino also will take over the lead role in finding a location to relocate and expand PPCS’ current Soulard Shelter.

PPCS had planned to replace its Soulard Shelter operations with a new shelter at the former Sts. Mary and Joseph Church at 6304 Minnesota Ave. in the Carondelet neighborhood, but is instead looking for another site after facing strong opposition by neighboring property owners there, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.