What is the cost of 20 years of faithful service?

Just over twenty years ago, the Wichita community came together to build new facilities for Harbor House domestic violence shelter and St. Anthony Family Shelter. The shelters opened with hope, fresh paint and a promise that people fleeing violence or homelessness would not have to face the night alone.

These shelters were built through the generosity of our donors two decades ago. Since then, nearly 20,000 people, 40 percent of whom were children, have spent the night in one of the 25 family residential units at Harbor House and St. Anthony.”

Traci Kennedy, executive director of Catholic Charities

Today, their work continues just as strong, faithful and urgent as ever. Their mission and the need have not changed, but time has. The buildings now carry the visible weight of decades of constant use. They have never rested because the people who have needed them have not been able to wait. It’s simply a story of relentless service. 

Harbor House and St. Anthony have been refuges for people escaping abuse and deep instability. The once-new shelters are worn, not from neglect, but from the cost of never closing. They have reached the point where they require updates to better meet the needs of people and families in crisis. They need large-scale repairs to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

They need a restoration.

Investing in the Next 20 Years

Ready to meet these needs, Catholic Charities has launched The Restoration, a $3.6 million project that combines $3.4 million in facilities improvements for Harbor House and St. Anthony Family Shelter with approximately $200,000 to sustain services, which will be funded through the annual Queen Bee campaign. With $1.5 million already committed through a board-designated endowment match, Catholic Charities is seeking $2.1 million in public support for the project. The 2026 Queen Bee court is a group of dynamic women who have been recruited to raise funds for the shelters. Now in its tenth year, the Queen Bee campaign has raised over $776,000 for mission support.

The Restoration will also improve the healing impact of 34,030 square feet of space where so many families have slept, shared meals and gathered in common spaces every day. The updates will be guided by trauma-informed design principles, an approach that did not exist when the shelters were built. Colors, furnishings and finishes will be chosen to provide a calming, safe environment that allows survivors and families to finally exhale and stop bracing for what comes next.

The Restoration mirrors the experience of the people it serves. In their most vulnerable moments, restoration is what they seek—stability, safety and a chance to regain their footing. The Restoration is built on the belief that the spaces receiving them should reflect the dignity worthy of every person who arrives.