As published in the North Star Catholic:
Childhood is a magical time. When you’re a little kid, the whole world feels new, fresh, and full of possibilities. Every new friend, every new experience, even just a new toy or unexplored patch of forest holds limitless possibilities. Childhood is a precious time, a valuable time, a time for dreaming.
For more than 50 years, Clare House has provided safe shelter for moms and kids experiencing homelessness. Last year, 388 moms and kids stayed at Clare House. We’ve learned through our work and the stories shared with us that the trauma of homelessness can bring overwhelming stress and fear to daily life, dimming the joy and wonder that should define childhood. When you’re not sure where you’re going to sleep or how many hours it will be before your next meal, it’s harder to dream— instead of feeling magical, the future feels uncertain and unclear.
This breaks our hearts, and it breaks the hearts of moms who only want to give their children the best but have fallen on hard times. That’s why, with the help of our community, Clare House provides food, shelter, and case management to help families get back on their feet, back to feeling safe and secure, and back to dreaming about the future. Since 2014, Clare House has provided housing for 2,531 individuals, including over 1,000 families in need — and we will continue to be here for the thousands more who will need us in the years ahead.
At Clare House, we listened closely to the voices of our clients. From their own experience, those clients shared that although Clare House feels safe, there is more we could do to create a warm, welcoming, secure environment, better suited to helping families successfully exit homelessness. That’s why we’re working toward a remodel we believe will truly make a difference. We hope to update the front desk with better visibility and safety, and to remodel the community room into a kid-friendly space with more storage for books, toys, and art Moms expressed a desire for a window between the training room and the community room, allowing them to see their children—who are in the care of trusted providers—while they attend training sessions. This simple connection brings peace of mind and a sense of comfort.
On May 17th, 2025, Catholic Social Services will host the 34th annual Charity Ball to raise funds for the moms and kids at Clare House, to help update the space to better serve their needs. We hope that you’ll join us as we dream of a brighter future together for families in need in our community. Together, we can provide a safe and warm environment for moms to find support, plan for the future, and for kids to rediscover the magic of childhood once again. Together we can create a place to dream.
Sincerely,
Robin Dempsey, CEO
