Your prayers for us are being answered and your donations demonstrating your support as we approach local foundations. (If our constituency contributes generously, foundations are that much more willing to give.) Our board of directors’ efforts are being rewarded as well––at astonishing speed. Now, several foundations and individuals have brought us closer to the opening day of a residence for homeless, pregnant women. Very much closer. (Please watch for specifics in our next newsletter.) We also thank you as we anticipate the first babies to be born to the first group of young mothers to live in Philomena House.

Someone will soon donate the house we’ll name “Philomena House”, our proposed shelter for homeless, pregnant young women to be located in the Saint Paul, Roseville area.

You may personally know that person, or you know someone who does. If so, please let us know. The four (or-more) bedroom place we need should be ready to open soon.

A daring, but attainable goal

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We told you that we were beginning to seek grants from among Minnesota foundations. We’ve done that and made friends with several that support efforts such as Philomena House but our grant proposal have not been accepted so far.

We continue to submit proposals…and hope. (Keep in mind that there are 9,000 nonprofit organizations in the state, so competition for monies is daunting.)

What have we learned so far? Foundations prefer their existing recipients for ongoing support. Philomena House is perceived as a start-up, therefore as having an uncertain future. And, we need a house with client-residents in place to prove our feasibility.

So far, we have found several candidates for housemother, trained volunteers ready to begin mentoring, a stalwart board of directors, and paperwork such as intake forms ready to go. God knows we are ready to start. We await his all-knowing providence and the amazing succor of St. Philomena.

Imagine a four or five-bedroom house in the Roseville or Como Park area to

shelter, for as long as a year, girls and women, homeless and pregnant, without supporting friends or family. A kitchen where they cook and set the table every day…a warm furnace in winter…baby cribs and highchairs…and the ever-ready guidance of experienced mentors to help these mothers toward self-sufficiency.
Our earnest prayer is a donated house. Many similar women’s shelters across the country have started because someone gave them a house…gratis. With a donated house, we can make ourselves more attractive to foundations and set ourselves up for continuing support as others have done. If you know of any situation that may serve us well, please call Bernie or Joyce at either number below.

We thank you for your support, interest in our cause and your contributions in the past.

Remember, Philomena House is a federal tax-exempt, 501 © (3) organization. With your contributions, you save the lives of babies from abortion and help ensure the lifelong well being of their desperate mothers. Please send your gift in the enclosed, self-addressed envelope.

Joyce Nevins, Co-director (651) 488-0652

P.S. Your prayers have brought us many favors. Please continue to pray for us.

In Psalm 127, Solomon cautions us that we build nothing valuable except through the grace of God. As co-directors of Philomena House, a new pro-choice shelter for homeless, pregnant girls and women, who want their babies to live, we thank Him for His abundant graces and blessings this year.

We believe Providence has blessed us. Here’s how:

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Check back here often to follow our progress towards opening the Philomena House. We’ll keep you posted on all of our events, challenges and successes. Thanks and God bless you!