Clare House History
In the early 1980´s when homelessness gained prominence as a social phenomenon, Lancaster County lacked a special environment specifically for women and children who were homeless. Clare House was developed originally as the mission of a local Catholic diocese to shelter homeless women with children.
In the early years, the shelter essentially provided a safe place for women and children to stay. Today, the program has grown to provide case-management, parenting classes, mentoring, budgeting, nutrition education, job training skills and housing assistance. The service provided by Clare House is a viable, proactive alternative to homelessness.
Clients are served from Lancaster and surrounding counties (York, Lebanon, Berks, Dauphin). Clare House is a United Way member agency and is funded through contributions made by foundations, churches, individuals, businesses and governmental grants.
Clare House Purpose
People who become homeless have many risk factors. The two most prevalent trends are a lack of affordable housing and poverty. In addition, homeless people are almost always clients of public systems of care and assistance. Issues such as poor health, drug and alcohol addictions, mental and physical health problems, incarceration, violence and victimization, joblessness, low levels of educational achievement, few job skills and a complete lack of family support compound the problem.
As stated before, in the early 80´s Lancaster County lacked a special environment for homeless women and children. Clare House was developed to essentially provide a place to stay. The program has gone through many changes, but the basic need of the population has stayed the same and Clare House continues to provide for that need.
A "One Day Count" was conducted by the United Way of Lancaster County and the Interagency Council for the Homeless to survey the number of individuals residing in homeless shelters in the County of Lancaster. Over 600 people were identified. That number did not include individuals living in the streets or in their cars. Further, this did not include those people that were doubled and tripled up with family or friends and are technically considered homeless.
Clare House transitional shelter serves homeless women and children by providing a temporary home in a caring environment, life-skills programs and aftercare support leading to self-sufficiency. The program not only gives women and children a safe place to stay, but also assists clients in overcoming the barriers that brought them to their current situation of homelessness. The program includes a 90-120 day stay, intensive case-management services, agency collaborations and aftercare support.
Our Mission
Clare House serves homeless women and children by providing a temporary home in a caring environment, life skills programs and aftercare support leading to self-sufficiency.
About Clare House
Every day Clare House receives calls from women who find themselves homeless as a result of abusive relationships, addiction, loss of employment, or simply slipping through "the system." These women need a safe place for themselves and their children where they can turn their lives around. They need someone who understands and is willing to give them a hand.
Sponsors and Affiliations
