[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Imagine for a moment that you have young children, no one to catch you when you fall, nowhere to go for safety, and no hope for a future with your babies. At Catholic Charities, we are here to help. Guadalupe Home is a transitional shelter for pregnant and parenting mothers and their babies who find themselves homeless. Rather than provide emergency shelter for a night or two, we offer a safe, long-term, no-cost home for pregnant and parenting mothers of children age three and below who are interested in making a change for a hopeful future.

At Guadalupe Home, our goal is to provide basic needs while a mother works toward self-sufficiency by getting an education, finding a job, and saving money for the next step in her journey. More importantly, our mothers are fighting to keep their children despite the circumstances.

Cece came to Guadalupe Home desperate for help. A victim of domestic abuse, she left her town, her home, and her belongings seeking a safe shelter for her and her unborn baby. She was quickly welcomed and provided her own room for her and her unborn baby upon arrival. But, the work was on her. A case manager helped her make a plan and set goals for self-sufficiency. Program Director Mariel Luna assigned shelter responsibilities and arranged life skills classes in communication, budgeting, household management, personal hygiene, and more. Catholic Charities’ Family and Children’s Services provided parenting classes and counseling to ensure the cycle of abuse and trauma stopped the day Cece moved into Guadalupe Home. And help won’t stop there when she is ready to move. Catholic Charities offers wrap-around services with our Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, Baby Boxes, Crime Victim Legal Assistance, Pregnancy and Parent Support Services, and more to ensure her success.

Cece says, “The Guadalupe Home helped me in so many ways. This is so much more than a place to stay. Since I’ve been here, I have enrolled in school to invest in my future. I have so much more faith and that itself is a powerful tool.”

Anyone interested in learning more about how to help residents of Guadalupe Home should call (210) 476-0707 or contact Mariel Luna at mluna@ccaosa.org.

J. Antonio Fernández is president/CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_message]QuickInfo
Offer support at the 16th Annual Fandango Under the Stars on Saturday, Feb 24, at 6 p.m. at Pedrotti’s Northwind Ranch. Contact Christina at chiggs@ccaosa.org to purchase tickets.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

By Today's Catholic Newspaper

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