Breaking Ground on New Charis House Home

“Even through opposition to pull us through and have us here today, thats god faithfulness” says Pastor Patty Crisp, President of Fort Wayne’s Charis House. Charis House has been on Washington Boulevard for the past 12 years. But soon, off of Wells Street will be their new location; providing more shelter for homeless women and children. “We have utilized every nook and cranny in that place to make as much usable space as we possibly can” says Crisp. Around 75 people each month have to be turned away. Their current residence is only able to hold 42 beds. Their new residence will hold 78. The new house will be handicap accessible and now each and every family will have their own table to sit at. “Just being able to sit down and have a family meal which has proven to bring the risks down for acting out behaviors” Crisp says. “The Charis House is just a fortress of hope and Gods love to help us women to deal with addictions” says Jeanne Bay, a Charis House resident. Bay struggled with an addiction herself. After having nowhere else to turn to, she and her three kids went to Charis House in 2005. “We really didnt have anywhere else to go due to my addiction. I lost my home” says Bay. After 2 years at the shelter and completing the drug addiction program, she and her family left. But bay continued to struggle. “I did pretty well for a while. I was not hanging out with the healthiest people and I eventually relapsed and caused me to go backwards I guess” Bay says. Bay and her children returned to Charis House just three months ago. Today she is now 90 days clean. The new Charis House is expected to be complete by March. It will cost $4.5-million. They are currently still short $2.7-million. If you’d like to donate contact Larry Pinto at (260) 426-7357 ext. 26.