Julie lost count of the number of times she thought about leaving.
She’d always pictured herself as a strong woman who could endure anything. But what she couldn’t handle was seeing her young son modeling the traits of an abuser. That’s when she knew she had to get help.
Harbor House was where Julie’s story changed. Her family’s arrival wasn’t desperately fleeing in the night, but it was in desperation to change the trajectory of their future.
The Restoration is about ensuring families like Julie’s have a safe place to begin rebuilding their lives.
One of our purposes here on Earth is to serve others and to help people who are less fortunate or going through tough circumstances. The shelters exist for populations who truly need help. Your support provides not just a place to stay, but a warm and welcoming environment for people to heal and hope again.”
Megan McCurdy Niedens, Board Chair at Catholic Charities Chief Operating Officer & Auctioneer at McCurdy Real Estate & Auction
Safety, hope, and healing
St. Anthony Family Shelter and Harbor House domestic violence shelter are refuges for people escaping domestic violence, homelessness, and deep instability.
For more than two decades, they have faithfully provided a safe place for people to heal and hope again. Since they were constructed 20 years ago, the current shelter buildings have served 7,708 children and 11,562 adults facing homelessness and/or domestic violence.
The Restoration cannot wait.
Twenty years of open doors have left their mark. These spaces have absorbed the weight of thousands of lives whose worlds were crashing in.
They are worn, not from neglect, but by the cost of never closing. The years have taken a toll on the 34,000 square feet of space. This project is more than refinishing surfaces. It is about saving time and reducing costs. We will replace high-maintenance flooring and finishes with low-maintenance options; install energy efficient lighting, windows and heating and cooling systems; and upgrade furniture and fixtures to more durable options that require less repair and replacement.
A refuge should feel like a refuge.
When Harbor House and St. Anthony were built, trauma-informed design simply did not exist.
A deeper understanding now shapes how we think about refreshing these spaces.
What Makes an Environment Feel Safe
We can provide a calming, safe environment through choosing:
Calming colors
Sturdy furnishings
Durable finishes
The improvements will create surroundings that help survivors and families finally exhale, stop bracing for what comes next and focus on rebuilding their lives.
The Impact of a Safe Environment
People who feel safe:
Engage more with services
Rest easier
Are more willing to seek counseling
Feel more confident in taking the next step to reclaim their future
As a result, The Restoration will affect long-term outcomes such as housing stability, employment and overall well-being.
The Restoration cannot happen without you.
You can join The Restoration to ensure the shelters are here to restore healing and hope to another 20,000 people over the next 20 years.
Your gift proves to the most vulnerable that there is still good in the world.
It helps people get back on their feet. It makes it possible for a little girl to dream about her future again. It makes it possible for a little boy to fall asleep without fear. It reminds each parent of the inner strength they never stopped carrying.
The first $1.5M in gifts/pledges from individual donors like you will be matched with board-designated endowment funds!
Interested in becoming a sponsor? For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Development Manager Christopher Acton at (316) 202-0086.
*All expenses are estimated based on current costs. This budget does not include upgrades to the outdoor areas, including landscaping and drainage, which may be added to the project. Any surplus funds raised for The Restoration will benefit shelter operations or other services and facilities.
