Laura's Home Acquires New Beds For Those in Need

Online, February 10, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Laura's Home Women's Crisis Center has added 22 new beds to meet the demand of increasing numbers of women in need in the Cleveland, Ohio area. This change comes just before celebrating its ninth anniversary on February 14, 2012.

Linda Uveges, manager of Laura's Home states, "We've seen a significant increase in the number of homeless women with children calling Laura's Home in need of shelter. The addition of these new beds will help us serve more families who will receive safe, stable housing and the other benefits of our programs."

Laura's Home can accommodate both single women in an individual room or dorm and women with up to eight children. Each family has its own room and never shares space with single women.

The facility has consistently run at (or close to) capacity, even before the housing crisis and recession began. Although this winter has been far milder than in past years, the number of women with children checking availability each day remains high. Prior to the surge, the number of clients each night was close to 105. Recently it has repeatedly spiked up to about 130. The increase is primarily attributed to larger families.

In order to increase capacity, two intern rooms, primarily used in the summer for college students who join the staff for 11 weeks, and one other room were modified to accommodate families. These changes have resulted in a new capacity of 154 beds in 53 rooms.

Laura's Home provides shelter and resources for women in crisis. The program consists of both short-term and long-term options, depending upon the needs of each woman. Short-term stays at Laura's Home involve a 30 day maximum stay, nutritious meals, personal hygiene items, optional daily chapel services and some case management services. Long-term stays in Laura's Home are dedicated to women who need more time to address the issues that have led to their current crisis, often rooted in traumatic experiences. These women are offered a 180 day stay, case management, life skills classes and support groups, personal hygiene items, daily chapel services and spiritual guidance.

Last year, Laura's Home:

• Served 56,379 meals in a safe, welcoming environment.
• Provided 38,082 nights of secure shelter to 532 women and 374 children.
• Prepared 134 women and 103 children for a brighter future through their long-term program.
• Blessed 57 program graduates with strength, hope and courage.

Monetary gifts of any amount to help cover the unexpected expense of providing enough space for those in need for Laura's Home are appreciated. Donations can be made on the Mission's website at http://www.thecitymission.org/cold-weather, or checks and money orders made payable to The City Mission can be mailed to or dropped off at The City Mission, located at 5310 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103. Please note "Laura's Home" on the memo line.