Wish Providence House Book SHELTER. SAFETY. SKILLS. SUCCESS.
Wish 814 Cotton Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 Book CALL (318) 550-GIFT 1
Friends, I am excited to deliver to you the first ever Providence House Wishbook. Within these pages you will have the opportunity to read snippets of stories of hope and perseverance as family after family, with the help of Providence House, have gone from homelessness to home. But, in addition, you will have the unique opportunity to celebrate the act of giving with friends and loved ones. We all want to give the perfect gift, the one that makes a significant difference in the life of the recipient. With careful thought we have compiled the Wishbook. A gift from these pages both honors the receiver while having a life-changing impact on a homeless family struggling to right itself in difficult times. These are the gifts that matter. A sweater will go out of season, and there is a good chance that this year s hottest gadget won t live up to expectations. But, with your help, our families will exceed your expectations for years to come, through themselves today and their children tomorrow. Blessings, 2
Life-Changing Gifts Pick Your Passion In this catalog you will learn how you can join Providence House in: l SHELTER AND SKILLS: helping a homeless family gain the skills they need to lead back to stable housing and independence. l CHILD CARE: providing quality child care and learning programs to our community s most vulnerable preschool-age children; supplying school-age children with all the materials and clothes they need to have a successful school year. l ADULT EDUCATION: sending a resident through our on-site adult education program to obtain their GED. l DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: helping a victim of domestic violence and her children find sanctuary from threats and abuse. u As you learn about the programs offered at Providence House, you choose to support the one that speaks to you. u You receive important updates, invites to events and our quarterly newsletter. u With your help, our community will have more productive and contributing citizens helping to make it a more prosperous place to live. CALL (318) 550-GIFT HOMEOWNER S ASSOCIATION Throughout this catalog, you will see our Homeowner s Association logo attached to some gifts. These gifts of $1,000 or above to Providence House will qualify you to HOA be a part of our Homeowner s Association. 3
SHELTER AND SKILLS First steps toward INDEPENDENCE Hillary Moore and her son, Caden, graduated from the program in 2011. Give the Gift of Home Make a donation of: $100 per day for a family of 4 $700 per week for a family of 4 $2,800 per month for a family of 4 $8,400 for a family of 4 to complete their first steps HOA 4 HOA The Gift of Home allows us to welcome those homeless families who are making the first steps towards breaking the cycle of homelessness and a better future for their children. Transitional Shelter (1st phase) l Open 365 days a year. l Houses up to 27 families at a time. l Provide 3 meals/ day, clothing and all other essentials. l Full array of support services to stabilize and prepare families for self-sufficiency. l Program addresses life, job, and parenting skills; education, emotional health; and financial responsibility. l Serves approximately 400 adults and 600 children each year. Watch a video tour of Providence House on our website at
Where do you go when you have nothing? Providence House, a residential development center for homeless families with children and single women, has been working to break the cycle of homelessness in the Shreveport- Bossier community since 1992. With an array of services and resources easily accessible to our residents, Providence House ensures each family can reach their highest potential by increasing their educational level, gaining essential life and job skills, ensuring their children have access to quality child care and learning opportunities, and learning how to bud- get while saving half of their income. As of September 2012, Providence House has graduated 372 families with children, consisting of 412 adults and 802 children, along with 28 single women, back to the community with the skills and assets to live productive and successful lives without dependence on tax-payers dollars. Providence House is the largest transitional shelter for homeless families with children in Louisiana, serving 85 families daily through each of our programs. I came here because I lost my house in a fire. I ve gained so much more than just a place to live. I am more confident in myself, I ve been able to work on my education, and my kids are happy. Laverne Benton, March 2011 Graduate CALL (318) 550-GIFT 5
SHELTER AND SKILLS A Place to Call THEIR OWN PROJECT NEXT STEP Kalesha Hall and her son, Jakyrie, recently moved into an apartment of their own. Give the Gift of Home Make a donation of: $40 per day for a family of 4 in PNS $200 per week for a family of 4 in PNS $1,120 per month for a family of 4 in PNS HOA Currently, Providence House leases 35 apartments in the Shreveport- Bossier area to serve families in Project Next Step each year. For many this is the first home of their own; the first bed for their child; the first dinner table to gather around. Project Next Step (2nd phase) l Community living apartment program. l Providence House originally leases the apartment. l Families gradually increase contribution to the rent until fully paying the lease. l Furniture and other donated goods are provided by the community. l Families continue to receive case management and meet program requirements during this phase. Watch a video of Providence House graduation on our website at 6
Hurricane Survivor Looking for a Miracle Sabrina Ruano and her two children, Austin and Lily, were displaced after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Much of Sabrina s support system was also displaced, so going back and trying to make a life was almost impossible. She moved to Shreveport to live with friends, but she couldn t afford her I came into myself, Watch Sabrina s story online at CALL (318) 550-GIFT I found myself, I found my voice. share of the bills. With no place to go, Sabrina, Austin and Lily moved into Providence House hoping for a miracle. Sabrina was able to find her voice and began to believe in herself while in the program. She took her time and learned everything she could because she wants to be able to pass on her knowledge to her children. Sabrina is working full-time and moved into an apartment that was beautifully decorated by the Renesting Project. Sabrina moved into Providence House because she needed shelter, but she was given the opportunity to begin a journey that would lead her to self-sufficiency. She found her miracle. Sabrina Ruano, March 2011 Graduate 7
ADULT EDUCATION Better opportunities FOR TOMORROW WORKING TO LEARN Ratoya Edwards (left) and Rita Utley (right) celebrate getting their GEDs with former teacher Gordon Blackman Jr. Give the Gift of Education Make a donation of: $40 per day for one adult $200 per week for one adult $800 per month for one adult $9,600 per GED HOA More than 25% of the Shreveport-Bossier community is lacking a high school diploma or GED. Working to Learn l Over 60% of adults that enter Providence House, and 25% of the Shreveport-Bossier community, do not have a GED or high school diploma. l Full-time education program to help residents obtain a GED. As of Oct. 2012, 37 residents have earned their GED since 2007. l Provides stipends so they can focus on furthering their education rather than settling for minimum wage jobs. l Providing adults with education is essential to breaking the homeless cycle. l Serves up to 16 adults daily. 8
GED opens woman s doors to a culinary future Mynetta Gibson has gained a new life and outlook since she earned her GED through the Providence House Working to Learn program. When she came to Providence House, she had lost her husband and her home. Mynetta and her three children, Elijah, Aniyah and Braedon, no longer felt welcome with relatives and found themselves alone. Once here, Mynetta joined the Working to Learn program and was paid to study for her GED test. I think that s a blessing right there to come to school, she said. She found everything easier once she started her classes helping her son with his homework was easy and even the GED test was easy because she was prepared. Watch a Working to Learn video as well as Mynetta s story at After earning her GED, Mynetta enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at Bossier Parish Community College and graduated within a year. Mynetta came full circle from being a resident to working at Providence House as a member of the dietary staff. I think going to school is a blessing. Mynetta Gibson Providence House graduate CALL (318) 550-GIFT 9
CHILD CARE A Foundation for F UTURE SUCCESS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER The two-year-olds learn their colors as well as counting at the Child Development Center. Give the Gift of Learning Make a donation of: $28 per day for one child $140 per week for one child $560 per month for one child Child Development Center l The ONLY child development center exclusively for homeless children in the state. l Serves children six weeks to 5 years. l Helps parents have the ability to seek and maintain employment or further their education. l Lack of affordable child care is one of the leading causes of homelessness for single mothers. l Children who experience homelessness have four times the rate of developmental delays, three times the rate of emotional or behavioral problems and twice the rate of learning disabilities. l Serves approximately 100 children per year. Watch a Child Development Center video on our website at 10
CHILD CARE Become a Providence House monthly donor Did you want to fly like Superman or run like Flash Gordon? Those were the good, ole days. But don t worry; all is not lost. By committing to a minimum donation of $20 a month you will receive an invitation to special volunteer events with the only Child Development Center in Louisiana! Your dedication will be commemorated with a Super League newsletter and an ORIGINAL Superhero shirt like none other. But, most importantly, you will be superhuman in the eyes of a child who desperately needs a hero. Give Providence House children the Power to Learn School-age Children l Serves approximately 300 children each year. l Provides school uniforms and supplies. l Working to keep students in the same school they were in before coming to Providence House. l Provides tutoring during the school year and summer camp opportunities. CALL (318) 550-GIFT 11
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Giving survivors a SAFE PLACE TO TURN Domestic Violence l In 2010 and 2011, Caddo Parish ranked the highest parish in the state for domestic violence related homicides. l Services provided include: confidential shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, temporary restraining orders. l Victims can receive shelter for 45 days. Gift of a Silent Night Make a donation of: $60 per night for a family of 4 $105 per week for a single $420 per week for a family of 4 * The people portrayed on this page are volunteer models. Our 100-bed SAFE House shelters about 250 women and 300 children each year. l The ONLY domestic violence shelter in Caddo, Bossier, Webster, and Red River parishes. l On average, we serve more than 500 survivors in our shelter and provide crisis line support to over 300 per year. Watch our Domestic Violence video at 12
GIVE A GIFT Twice Blessed The Providence House Gift Twice Blessed program is a quick and easy way to honor someone special and give a lasting gift to a homeless family this holiday. With your minimum donation of $10 per card to the Providence House, we send the honoree a card, made by a child from Providence House, acknowledging your gift. How does it work? Send us your contribution; email, mail or fax the information for the person (or people) you would like to honor, and we will do all of the work for you. The card will be personalized with your name, your company s name and/or a special message. The envelope will be addressed, the stamp affixed and then mailed. (Please allow 7-10 days for receipt to us and delivery.) To ensure delivery by Christmas Day, send your lists to us by December 7, 2012. MAIL TO: 814 Cotton Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 FAX TO: (318) 221-7976 EMAIL TO: adavis@theprovidencehouse.com CALL (318) 550-GIFT 13
Providence House: 814 Winner Cotton of Street the Shreveport, Community LA 71101 Foundation s Return on Investment Award Thank You for giving me a place to call home www.the.com CALL (318) 550-GIFT 14