Friday, October 17, 2008
Homeless Women and Children
Did you know that approximately forty percent of the local homeless population are families?...Did you know that families are the fastest growing homeless population in the nation?...Did you know that Wheeler Mission Ministries actually started 115 years ago as a shelter for women? That’s right, a shelter for women:
Luella McWhirter and her friends Celia Smock and Mary Howard Wheeler often discussed the societal needs of their day. The Civil War had ended less than three decades before, and now the Panic of 1893 had hit Indianapolis, forcing many businesses to close down leaving those in the unskilled labor force without employment or funds to acquire winter clothing, food, or a supply of wood or coal for their stove and furnace. The three friends felt that they should be among the first to respond in helping the less fortunate who had no other means to acquire the basic necessities. In addition to the desperate financial situation in the area, there was also what Luella considered great moral lapses among young women in the city who had become involved in prostitution, been jailed for various offenses, or were abandoned by their families who considered the young women’s imprudent behavior inappropriate. Luella, Celia, and Mary called these “friendless women”. They put their sense of Christian responsibility to work by boldly moving to establish the first home of its kind in Indianapolis called The Door of Hope for women. They also worked with Mary’s husband, William, to establish programs for families and men. It was October 1893, and the beginning of what would develop into more than a century of service by an organization now named Wheeler Mission Ministries.
(Sound familiar - war, uncertain economy, closing businesses, loss of jobs, loss of homes?)
In 2001 Wheeler Mission came full circle by merging with the Care Center to again provide services to homeless women and women with children. That next year we provided 13,994 nights of lodging to needy women and children. In 2007 those numbers had risen to 23,464 nights of lodging – a 67% increase. As of September 30th of this year we have already provided 16,717 nights of lodging to needy women and children in our community.
In the past month Wheeler has had at least four families come to our Center for Women and Children because their landlord lost his property leaving many living there without homes. How many more will be effected because of this uncertain economy? We can’t be sure. But as you can see, the need is greater than ever.
Next time I’ll share more about the help we offer to homeless women and children. In the meantime, if you’d like to help please contact us, or call to set up a tour to see first-hand how your donations and prayers are being put to use.
Rick
Luella McWhirter and her friends Celia Smock and Mary Howard Wheeler often discussed the societal needs of their day. The Civil War had ended less than three decades before, and now the Panic of 1893 had hit Indianapolis, forcing many businesses to close down leaving those in the unskilled labor force without employment or funds to acquire winter clothing, food, or a supply of wood or coal for their stove and furnace. The three friends felt that they should be among the first to respond in helping the less fortunate who had no other means to acquire the basic necessities. In addition to the desperate financial situation in the area, there was also what Luella considered great moral lapses among young women in the city who had become involved in prostitution, been jailed for various offenses, or were abandoned by their families who considered the young women’s imprudent behavior inappropriate. Luella, Celia, and Mary called these “friendless women”. They put their sense of Christian responsibility to work by boldly moving to establish the first home of its kind in Indianapolis called The Door of Hope for women. They also worked with Mary’s husband, William, to establish programs for families and men. It was October 1893, and the beginning of what would develop into more than a century of service by an organization now named Wheeler Mission Ministries.
(Sound familiar - war, uncertain economy, closing businesses, loss of jobs, loss of homes?)
In 2001 Wheeler Mission came full circle by merging with the Care Center to again provide services to homeless women and women with children. That next year we provided 13,994 nights of lodging to needy women and children. In 2007 those numbers had risen to 23,464 nights of lodging – a 67% increase. As of September 30th of this year we have already provided 16,717 nights of lodging to needy women and children in our community.
In the past month Wheeler has had at least four families come to our Center for Women and Children because their landlord lost his property leaving many living there without homes. How many more will be effected because of this uncertain economy? We can’t be sure. But as you can see, the need is greater than ever.
Next time I’ll share more about the help we offer to homeless women and children. In the meantime, if you’d like to help please contact us, or call to set up a tour to see first-hand how your donations and prayers are being put to use.
Rick
Labels: homelessness, women and children
