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Spring 2008
Project HOME Indy provides a nurturing residential environment that
assists homeless teenage girls who are pregnant or parenting in
building self-sufficiency. We create opportunities to expand life
skills, access healthcare, and realize greater educational success.
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Greetings!
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We hope this note finds all of you well. In the last quarter, Project HOME Indy has continued working towards expanding our program partners, identifying a fantastic facility, and developing the Board of Directors. The support we continue to receive has been incredible; your enthusiasm, encouragement, and creative ideas are helping us reach our goal of opening our doors in early 2009.
Have a wonderful spring, and we'll see you in the fall.
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PHI Finds Dream Location
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We have a house. Soon, it will be a home.
Project HOME Indy hit a major milestone in its quest to provide a nurturing, residential environment for homeless pregnant or parenting teens. PHI has entered into a Letter of Intent to rent a beautiful Victorian mansion at 32 E. 32nd Street. PHI is excited about this long-term partnership, so close to the Children's Museum, a bus line, schools, and excellent health care at Methodist Hospital. Additionally, the house is large enough to have seven to eight bedrooms, large common area and kitchen, and office space.
This house will one day provide shelter and warmth for teenage mothers and their infants. But before the house is ready for mothers and babies, we will need to do major renovations to ensure that it is a safe, and structurally sound, place that will meet the needs of our program. Preliminary estimates show that PHI will need almost $350,000 to turn this house into a home.
PHI has already begun its 2008 Capital Campaign to raise funds for the renovation. Board members have already applied for grants to fund the renovations, and on June 19, 2008, PHI will host a fundraiser in an attempt to seek support from individual donors. You can RSVP now by clicking here. Or for more information, see article below.
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PHI is KPMG Charity of Choice
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KPMG employees in Indianapolis chose Project HOME Indy as their charity of choice in April, donating more than $2,900 and $500 in items. More than 100 KPMG employees contributed during the drive, all to benefit the work of Project HOME.
"We are so grateful for the support and generosity that KPMG employees have offered Project HOME. Their support will help us serve our clients and their children, and it will truly make a difference," said Project HOME board president Kristen Schunk Moreland.
Moreland and Project HOME board member Christina Koennecke both work in KPMG's Public Sector Advisory Services sector.
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Proposal to Aid Homeless Youth Becomes Law
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 House Bill 1165, authored by Rep. Dennis Avery (D-Evansville), was signed into law by Governor Daniels in March. Provisions include:
- requiring
the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to aid homeless
children in accessing local resources and services; creation of an
office of Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children;
- allowing services to be provided to unaccompanied youth age 16-18, even if parental consent cannot be obtained;
- extending
the time for shelters to notify parents of the location of their child
from 24 hours to 72 hours to allow for investigation of potential
abuse.
Read HEA 1165 online.
For more information, visit Rep. Avery's website.
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Ask Anna
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 Meet Anna. She is a teenage mother, who, with the support of her mother, friends, and other family, is raising a happy, healthy baby named Brody. The challenges and successes young mothers experience while raising their babies are many. We are thrilled that Anna has offered to help us understand that experience from her perspective. Do you have a question for Anna? Just send an e-mail.
Q: We're getting ready to refurbish a house where teenage moms and their new babies can live. What's important for us to keep in mind to make sure it's a place that will help families grow?
A: Safety gates and other baby proof items are the biggest thing. You think something is put away and safe then the next thing you know its on the floor with all the other toys.
Q: As your son has grown, are there some new challenges you hadn't expected?
A: Brody was a well mannered baby but as soon as he developed a lively personality his attitude came out. The transition from sweet baby to little boy happened so quickly I never saw it coming.
Q: What advice would you give a new teen mom who maybe might not have the strong family support you've had?
A: So far my experiences with healthcare and social services have been great. My only complaint would be that some people looked down upon me because of my age. The actual assistance however has been great.
Q: Any other advice you'd give to teen moms?
A: Patience. Patience is the most important thing to have as a teen mother. Most teens believe everything revolves around them but having a child forces you to realize the fact that their are other people in the world and now the number one is your child.
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Second Annual Fundraiser - Join Us!
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Now that we have a house, help us make it a home. Located at 32 E. 32nd Street, Project HOME will one day provide shelter and warmth for teenage mothers and their infants. But before then, major renovations are necessary to ensure that it is a safe and structurally sound place that also meets the needs of our programs.
Preliminary estimates show that we will need almost $350,000 to turn this house into a home. Please join us on June 19 to help us launch our 2008 Capital Campaign.
When: Thursday, June 19, 2008, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Where: Firefighter's Union Hall, 748 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, 46202
Please RSVP by June 12 to info@projecthomeindy.org, or by phone to Christina Koennecke, at 317-332-3154. If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a donation online, click here.
Thank you for helping young mothers and their children on their journey to self-sufficiency.
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For more information about Project HOME Indy, please visit our website.
Project HOME Indy is a 501(c)(3) organization. Please support our efforts to provide pregnant, parenting, and homeless teenage girls the tools they need for self-sufficiency.
Click here to make a quick and easy tax-deductible contribution.
Thank you!
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