We are experiencing an alarming trend for our emergency homeless shelter and services we provide for those in need and for our community. With only three months to go before we enter a New Year, it is clear we will exceed our 2015 record numbers by the end of October. As the weather gets
As I start this Monday morning, I pause with thankfulness for answered prayers. We, as a community of “Cedar Rapidians”, have demonstrated once again our ability to come together and make a difference! I hear everyone saying “We rose above…..” and we did…we truly did. It took one single call to action on social
Check out our new website. We’ve added many new and convenient ways for generous donors, like you, to give. Look for the icons at the top right corner of our home page!!! You can donate with your credit card or your debit card and it is processed securely through PayPal. LOOK at our new Facebook
This September begins my 8th year at Catholic Worker House! I am proud of all the progress we have made in the last 7 years! One of the biggest changes we have made is the addition of our website, www.catholicworkerhouse.org . I arrived with minimal computer skills and absolutely NO Web Design skills. I have
Our 11th Annual Sleep Out for the Homeless will be at Veterans Memorial Stadium on October 29th-30th, 2016. The Sleep Out festivities begin at 3pm! All of the proceeds raised will be evenly distributed to participating local agencies including the Catholic Worker House! This year we have moved the event from November to October
A funny thing happened on my way to growing up. For the majority of my life, I’ve been a fully supporting individual with stable, gainful employment and the ability to provide a home for my family. But about ten years ago, I developed a serious problem with alcohol and subsequently, over time, managed to
Normally, the amount of time of stay at Catholic Worker House is 30 days for single women and 60 days for families. Occasionally, we have someone who has a need that is much different from our average client. When I met Ms. Mary in May 2014, I knew we were in for a long
Julie came to the house in late October 2009 with 11-year-old son Timothy and 9-year-old daughter Sierra. Julie and her children had been staying with her parents since leaving their apartment when Julie lost her job. During this time, Julie also received an OWI and was just starting substance abuse treatment at St. Luke’s
Martina Kelm came to us in August 2010. Her son Nathaniel was 10 months old at the time, and she was 12 weeks pregnant with her next son, Parker. Martina had suffered from a long history of IV meth use, sexual abuse and abandonment. Almost since birth, Martina has faced trials and tribulations. Martina
In the fall of 2014, we submitted a request for Federal Grant money. It is an old house and the flooring had never been replaced. We constantly fight bed bug infestations, chipped linoleum, worn and torn carpet. A year later, a city housing and redevelopment specialist administered grant funding through the federal government and
