Catherine McAuley Center for women & children experiencing homelessness

ANNUAL REPORT July 2019-June 2020 The Legacy of Catherine McAuley Born into a wealthy family in Dublin, Ireland, Catherine McAuley’s comfortable early life turned upside down when her father died in 1783. She was only five years old. Catherine’s mother managed to maintain a home of relative affluence for her three children by slowly selling off parcels of land, but she too would pass in 1798.

Catherine went to live at first with an impoverished uncle and later cousins with whom Catherine clashed over religious convictions. When her mother’s wealthy relatives William and Catherine Callaghan returned from India in 1803, Catherine gladly moved in to manage their elegant home. She lived there for nearly 20 years, providing religious instructions to the Catholic servants and village children and helping the less-privileged in the community find resources to improve their lives.

When William Callaghan passed in 1822, he named Catherine McAuley as his sole heir. She used her inheritance to establish a ‘House of Mercy’ on Baggot Street in September 1827. There, she and several companions provided food, clothing, housing, medical care, and education for many of Dublin’s poor women and young girls. Initially, Catherine distinguished herself from nuns and their convents, but in time she came to realize that in order for her work to continue, the House of Mercy would need to become a convent. In 1831, with the approval of Archbishop Daniel Murray, the congregation of Sisters of Mercy was founded. The Baggot Street house served as its first convent.

On December 12 of that year, the first Sisters of Mercy took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service. The Mercy Rule, approved by Rome, gave them the freedom to move beyond the convent to wherever poor, sick, and uneducated needed help. People in Dublin called them the “walking nuns.”

Be ever ready to praise, to enco””urage, to stimulate, but slow to censure… to condem’’”n.

2 Be ever ready to praise, to encourage, to stimulate, but slow to censure… to condemn. Table of contents

Letter from Executive Director 4 Introduction and Brief History 5 Programs and Services 6-7 Stories of Transformation 8-9 Development Report 10 Planned Giving: Leave a Legacy 11 Client Special Events 12-13 Marketing and Communications Plan 14-15 Volunteer Service 16 Leadership Lackawanna: Outdoor Project 17 Financials 18-19 Racism and Homelessness 20 Board of Directors / Staff 21 COVID-19 and Homelessness 2322 Action Items

3 Letter from our Executive Director

The Catherine McAuley Center has opened its doorsDear to women Friends, and children experiencing homelessness since 1984. While 2020 certainly was a year unlike any of the other 36 that the Center has offered services, we drew inspiration from the resilience and perseverance that we have seen in our clients. The Center was able to continue its case management services and housing programs, having an impact on more than 3,000 lives.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a health, economic and housing crisis, with a disproportionate impact on women. A housing crisis looms in 2021 and the Catherine McAuley Center is prepared to continue assisting women and children experiencing homelessness. We remain committed to serving those in need of housing and to feeding those in need of food. We will continue to connect those seeking assistance with available resources, all while striving to empower women and to shed light on the realities of racial inequity.

We are thankful to our dedicated staff, supportive board of directors, generous donors, faithful volunteers and a welcoming community, all who play a vital role in the success of the Catherine McAuley Center and those transitioning from homelessness.

I hope that our first annual report will provide insight to the impactful work that the Catherine McAuley Center does for homeless women and children in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. I invite you to share your findings with a friend, family member or neighbor, and invite them to utilize our services, if needed, or to support our work.

Thank you,

Krista Somers Executive Director

4 An introduction to the Catherine McAuley Center

Helping Women and Children Experiencing Homelessness Since 1984

he history of the Catherine McAuley Center traces its origins to a group of Tdedicated members of the Sisters of Mercy community who first identified the need for housing for homeless women in Scranton. By 1983, these Sisters began to reach out to the local population of homeless women by sharing extra bedrooms in their convent in North Scranton. The first woman to be accepted into the Convent as a guest was welcomed on September 1, 1984. The ministry began and was incorporated as the Catherine McAuley Center in 1985. The organization held its first Board meeting on July 31, 1986.

Today, the Catherine McAuley Center provides housing and supportive services for homeless individuals and families, primarily women and children, in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. The Continuum of Housing includes emergency shelters, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for both individuals and families. The Center also operates a transitional housing program for women leaving prison. Additional housing programs include two single-room occupancy residences and a single dwelling for a low-income family.

Beyond the shelter of a roof and walls, our wide range of supportive services help women and children overcome the trauma of homelessness through education, life skills, and assistance accessing counseling, employment, and training opportunities. Through our intensive case management, these services are tailored to each individual’s circumstances and transportation is provided when possible. These essential supports prove invaluable since the majority of those served are living at or below the federal poverty level.

Our role is distinctive in the community for the provision of emergency shelter to a highly-vulnerable population of women and children beyond those in an active domestic violence situation. The Center also offers a community food pantry, a furniture bank, and family bonding activities throughout the year. During the 2019/20 fiscal year, the Catherine McAuley Center housed a total of 329 individuals, and served an additional 405 people through our Family Support Program, 621 through our Food Pantry, and 1,735 individuals through our Christmas Adopt-A- Family Program.

5 Programs & services

Catherine McAuley Center: Programs and Services

(This section will include a pie chart of numbers served).

The Catherine McAuley Center is a member of the Scranton/Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties Continuum of Care [CoC], a collaboration to end homelessness administered by local non-profit agencies. In Lackawanna County collaborative partners include United Neighborhood Centers, Women’s Resource Center, Catholic Social Services, Community Intervention Center, Scranton Primary Health Care Center, and St. Joseph’s Center. Our role is distinctive in the community by providing emergency shelter to a highly vulnerable population of women and children beyond those in an active domestic violence situation.

Continuum of Housing Programs Short Term Housing Programs 30-Day Emergency Shelter: The Catherine McAuley Center operates two free, thirty-day residences for homeless women and children in crisis. The Emergency Shelter serving residents of Lackawanna County is located in Scranton; the Emergency Shelter serving residents of Luzerne County is located in Plymouth.

Medium Term Housing Programs Bridge Transitional Housing: The Bridge Housing Program provides rental assistance with case management for women and children experiencing homelessness working to achieve self-sufficiency. HUD Rapid ReHousing Program: Women and children experiencing homelessness receive rental assistance and supportive services while residing in scattered site apartments. Women Leaving Prison – Transitional Housing Program: The Catherine McAuley Center operates a transitional housing program for women leaving prison. Women must meet eligibility requirements and actively participate in life-improving programs while receiving case management services that encourage re-integration. ESG Rapid ReHousing: The purpose of the program is to assist women in finding and furnishing apartments; to provide rental assistance, case management, and life skills education; and to link women and children to mainstream resources. The goal is to stabilize the families’ housing situations in permanent housing. Long-Term Housing Programs Permanent Supportive Housing for Individuals: This program assists single, chronically homeless persons with mental health and other disabilities to obtain safe, affordable housing. Permanent Supportive Housing for Families: This program assists chronically homeless families, where at least one member of the family has a disability, to obtain safe, affordable housing. Please note that in both permanent supportive housing programs the clients receive intensive case management and supportive services at scattered sites. Frances Warde House and Anne’s Home: These two residences provide safe, decent, single room occupancy at reduced rent and supportive services for single low-income, self-sufficient women. Permanent Housing: The Catherine McAuley Center operates the Garber House, a single-family residence in Luzerne County that provides permanent housing for a low-income family. Additional Programs: Family Support Program: This program provides assistance to homeless or those facing eviction or housing instability who contact the Center for supportive/emergency services. Information, housing counseling, referrals and linkages to community services are provided. Food Pantry: Located at our administrative office site in Scranton, the Food Pantry collects, stores, and distributes food to people in need in the surrounding community. he Catherine McAuley Center is a member of the TScranton/Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties Continuum of Care [CoC], a collaboration to end homelessness administered by local non-profit agencies. In Lackawanna County, collaborative partners include United Neighborhood Centers, Women’s Resource Center, Catholic Social Services, Community Intervention Center, Scranton Primary Health Care Center, and St. Joseph’s Center. In Luzerne County, collaborative partners include the Commission on Economic Opportunity [CEO], the Kirby Family House Transitional Housing Program of the Salvation Army, Domestic Violence Service Center, Head Start, the Homeless Liaison of Wilkes-Barre Area School District, and housing authorities of Luzerne County. Our role is distinctive in the community by providing emergency shelter to a highly-vulnerable population of women and children beyond those in an active domestic violence situation.

Continuum of Housing Programs SHORT TERM HOUSING PROGRAMS 30-Day Emergency Shelter: The Catherine McAuley Center operates two free, 30-day residences for homeless women and children in crisis. The Emergency Shelter serving residents of Lackawanna County is located in Scranton; the Emergency Shelter serving residents of Luzerne County is located in Plymouth.

MEDIUM TERM HOUSING PROGRAMS Bridge Transitional Housing: The Bridge Housing Program provides rental assistance with case management for women and children experiencing homelessness working to achieve self-sufficiency.

HUD Rapid ReHousing Program: Women and children experiencing homelessness receive rental assistance and supportive services while residing in scattered site apartments.

Women Leaving Prison – Transitional Housing Program: The Catherine McAuley Center operates a transitional housing program for women leaving prison. Women must meet eligibility requirements 6 and actively participate in life-improving programs while receiving case management services that encourage re- integration.

ESG Rapid ReHousing: The purpose of the program is to assist women in finding and furnishing apartments; to provide rental assistance, case management, and life skills education; and to link women and children to mainstream resources. The goal is to stabilize the families’ housing situations in permanent housing.

LONG-TERM HOUSING PROGRAMS

Permanent Supportive Housing for Individuals: This program assists single, chronically homeless persons with mental health and other disabilities to obtain safe, affordable housing. Permanent Supportive Housing for Families: This program assists chronically homeless families, where the head of household has a disability, to obtain safe, affordable housing. *Please note that in both permanent supportive housing programs the clients receive intensive case management and supportive services at scattered sites.

Frances Warde House and Anne’s Home: These two residences provide safe, decent, single room occupancy at reduced rent and supportive services for single low-income, self-sufficient women.

Permanent Housing: The Catherine McAuley Center operates the Garber House, a single- family residence in Luzerne County that provides permanent housing for a low-income family.

Additional Programs Family Support Program: This program provides assistance to homeless or those facing eviction or housing instability who contact the Center for supportive/emergency services. Information, housing counseling, referrals and linkages to community services. are provided. Food Pantry: Located at our administrative offices in Scranton, the Food Pantry collects, stores, and distributes food to people in need in the community. Christmas Adopt-A-Family Program: The Adopt-A-Family program matches local families, businesses, and community organizations with families and their children in need during the holiday season.

Programs & services 7 At the Catherine McAuley Center, our most powerful expressions of gratitude come from the women and children working in our housing programs.

elen and her three daughters came to stay at Therese’s HHome, our Emergency Shelter in Scranton. Thanks to the Catherine McAuley Center, they were able to share the most basic of family experiences that most of us take for granted: preparing meals, enjoying outdoor play, and gathering around the table for a family dinner. At a time when their struggles seemed overwhelming, this family found not only shelter, but a sense of calm and peace.

“We were so happy to be able to come to Therese’s Home. As soon as we came through the door, we felt calm and peaceful. We could finally wake up and cook meals in peace, without hearing voices screaming at us. My daughters have never felt as free as they do here, where they can talk to each other and speak at the table when we sit together and eat. My daughters can choose the programs they watch on television, and they enjoy going outside and playing on the playground.

We are grateful for everything that the Catherine McAuley Center has helped us with, and how you have supported us through this difficult time in each of our lives.”

From Helen and her children

8 stories of transformation

hakeela Slade-Martin was a young girl Sin 2009, when she and her mother Aqila became a part of the Bridge Transitional Housing Program of the Catherine McAuley Center. For both of them, the Center symbolized a second chance in life.

Overcoming homelessness and economic hardship would not be an easy task. Shakeela expressed determination to accomplish her goal of enlisting in the military following her graduation. She remained focused and committed as she completed basic training, and is now stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, home to the 101st Airborne Division.

At the age of 18, Shakeela achieved the ranking of Private First Class in the United States Army. Her area of interest remains engineering as she pursues her military career.

One of our most impressive success stories comes from Jillian, a mother who entered one of our emergency shelter residences after she was evicted from her apartment. While enrolled in our Emergency Shelter Program, she began a higher paying job with more reliable hours at a nursing home. She was able to increase her income and use her resources to obtain her own apartment. This mother was so motivated to obtain independent housing that she was able to secure an apartment without the assistance of a Housing Program from another agency. She still resides in this new apartment today and continues to maintain her full-time job. 9 development report

ur programs and services would not be possible without the generous support of Oan extraordinary group of donors. Comprised of individuals from all walks of life, alongside private and community foundations, local businesses, community groups, schools, and civic organizations, our donors exemplify the spirit of compassion and philanthropy. Financial support of the Catherine McAuley Center comes in many forms that include individual donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, bequests, and community fundraisers. In addition to monetary donations, in-kind donations of food, household items, school supplies, and holiday gifts help our clients in their journey to creating a secure and comfortable home. Every gift to the Catherine McAuley Center makes a difference in the life of someone who is homeless, here in our own community. The impact of your generous support can be found in the countless stories of families rebuilt and lives transformed.

WAYS TO GIVE

BY MAIL To donate by mail, please make your check payable to Catherine McAuley Center and mail your donation to: Development Office Catherine McAuley Center 430 Pittston Avenue Scranton, PA 18505

ONLINE Making an online donation by credit card is fast, secure, and easy to complete. Please visit our website at www.catherinemcauleycenter.org.

STOCKS AND SECURITIES Gifts of appreciated stock and securities can benefit the donor as well as the Catherine McAuley Center. Please contact the Development Office at 570-342-1342 to guide you in coordinating these transactions.

TRIBUTE GIFTS Gifts to the Catherine McAuley Center can also be a way to honor and memorialize someone of special significance. We are happy to notify family members of your special tribute gift.

MATCHING GIFTS Matching gifts are a type of corporate giving program that essentially doubles your donation to the Catherine McAuley Center. Check to see if your employer participates in a matching gift program – your gift will have twice the impact.

10 Planned Giving

LEAVING A LEGACY TO THE CATHERINE MCAULEY CENTER

he life of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, is a testament to the Timpact of a single gift. In 1831, Catherine used a generous inheritance to build the first House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland. Her personal mission of serving the poor, sick, and uneducated endures today through the ministries of the Sisters of Mercy. The Catherine McAuley Center bears the name of the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, and we honor her legacy of caring through our own work serving homeless individuals and families. Sustaining the mission of the Catherine McAuley Center for future generations is now our greatest challenge. To address this challenge, we have established the Legacy Society to honor those friends and supporters who have included the Catherine McAuley Center in their will or through another form of planned gift. You may become a member of the Legacy Society by notifying us that you have named the Catherine McAuley Center as a beneficiary in your will or estate plan, even if you choose to remain anonymous.

MAKING A PLANNED GIFT A planned gift is one that anticipates your future circumstances and is often made as part of your retirement or estate plan. Your bequest, through your will or trust, is the simplest type of planned gift you can make. A bequest can be a stated dollar amount, a percentage amount, or a specific property. You can also make a planned gift simply by naming the Catherine McAuley Center as a beneficiary of an insurance policy or retirement plan. Our Development Office will be happy to work with you in planning a gift that will express your personal commitment to the Catherine McAuley Center. By including the Catherine McAuley Center in your will or estate plan, you will create a permanent legacy of caring that will far exceed the span of your own lifetime. Your generosity will touch the lives of homeless individuals and families for many years to come.

We express a special note of gratitude to those foundations that made grants of $5,000 or more to the Catherine McAuley Center during the 2019/20 fiscal year:

The Mercy Foundation Robert H. Spitz Foundation Scranton Area Community Foundation First Federal Charitable Foundation MAXIMUS Foundation The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation It’ll Do Foundation The Luzerne Foundation 11 Client Events

hanging the story of homelessness begins with stable Chousing, but does not end with providing shelter. The gift of a happy childhood – one where all children feel secure, cared for, and loved – has a lifelong impact.

The celebration of holidays has a special significance for the women and children of the Catherine McAuley Center. Through these events we create family traditions, shared experiences, and lasting memories.

KNOEBELS TRIP When children return to school in the fall, the most commonly asked question remains: What did you do over the summer vacation? For children from families struggling with homelessness, the response is often silence. Our annual summer trip to Knoebels Amusement Park, funded by an anonymous donor, fills this void for the families of the Catherine McAuley Center. The expressions of gratitude, excitement, and joy on the faces of our children are the strongest testament to the benefits of the Knoebels Family Outing, an event cited by many families as “the best day of our lives.”

THE MAGIC OF HALLOWEEN At our Halloween Party held at the Hickory Street Presbyterian Church, mothers and children decked out in costumes carved jack-o-lanterns and made caramel apples, while enjoying balloon art, face-painting activities and dinner. Costumes, pumpkins and caramel apples are all compliments of generous community members.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES In early December, our children became home decorators, as they adorned the roof and walls of gingerbread houses with icing and toppings. 12 THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS Families gathered at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton to ring in the Christmas season with a full-course meal, music and dancing, and a special visit from the guest of honor: Santa Claus.

EASTER The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early spring forced the Catherine McAuley Center to find new and creative ways to celebrate holidays. With families unable to gather for the traditional party and egg hunt, we brought the Easter Bunny to our families for a special visit. The Easter Bunny drove by, waving and bringing goodies for each child.

MOTHER’S DAY Paying tribute to their moms at the annual Mother’s Day Tea is always a special treat for our children. In place of the tea party,

Client Events 13 Marketing & Communications

o raise public awareness of our mission and services, the Catherine McAuley TCenter began the process of developing a professional marketing and communications plan in 2019. With the addition of a Marketing and Communications Coordinator on staff dedicated to creating this new plan, the Center now enjoys a stronger online presence and enhanced website and social media platforms. A consistent brand image, design, and message helps to give the Catherine McAuley Center immediate public recognition.

Through a grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the Center benefited from the services of a project consultant to provide professional expertise, guidance, and practical assistance in the creation and implementation of this communications plan. Craig Lukatch, President of Lackawanna Sanctuary and Environmental Education Center, served as our Executive-in-Residence, bringing to the plan years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector. Focus group sessions were held with a cross-section of participants that included Board Members, volunteers, donors, staff, and community and nonprofit leaders. Key discussion CRAIG LUKATCH points included how the Catherine McAuley Center is viewed in the community and how we can become more visible to the public.

The formation of a Development and Community Outreach Committee emerged as a result of these discussions. Members of this new committee will be charged with working with the staff to build on our current brand and communications plans, as well as to develop creative marketing and outreach programs that will attract new partners and supporters. The committee will serve as a conduit for communicating with the public as well as with local print and media outlets.

@mcauleycenter

mcauleycenter

CatherineMcAuleyCenter

CatherineMcAuleyCenter (Scranton)

14 At left: our Instagram page continues to attract new followers and to help us connect with the community. Above: Our social media call for valentines caught the attention of The Scranton Times-Tribune and dozens of donors who contributed hundreds of cards for the children enrolled in our programs to take to school.

id you Dknow we’re on YouTube? Subscribe to our channel for notices of upcoming livestream events and to browse the archive of past videos.

Marketing & Communications 15 Volunteer service

The gift of Volunteers are an essential part of the operations of the Catherine McAuley Center. Studentstime paint muralsis andpriceless prepare meals for the residents of our Emergency Shelters. Community service groups plant flowers, bake cupcakes, fill school backpacks, and help out at our special holiday events. Schools, civic associations, and communities of worship coordinate donation drives, collecting food and basic household items, as well as Halloween costumes, Easter baskets, and Christmas stocking stuffers. From stuffing envelopes to teaching cooking classes, our volunteers give their time and their hearts to support our mission.

Each year the Catherine McAuley Center holds a Volunteer Luncheon at Mercy Center in Dallas to honor outstanding individual volunteers and service groups. In September 2019, we recognized Paul O’Malia and Sr. Mary Jane Coleman for their outstanding service. Our special Generosity of Spirit Awards were given to the Plymouth Kiwanis Club and St. John Neumann Parish RCIT (Rite of Christian Initiation for Teens).

Clockwise from above: Youth volun- teers from St. John Neumann Parish Misericordia University students, and members of the Junior League of 16 Scranton. Leadership Lackawanna

Each one of us has the capacity to make a difference in the life of someone who is homeless.

The Catherine McAuley Center has created a secure, fenced-in space for our new Outdoor Learning and Activity Center located at the Administrative Building. This area will now provide opportunities for our family members to spend time and interact with one another in an environment that is safe and stimulating. For mothers and children struggling to overcome homelessness, these experiences are invaluable. The new activity center will be especially important in the summer months, when our children do not have the benefit of structured learning activities that all-day school provides.

The development of this new outdoor learning resource was adopted by the Leadership Lackawanna Class of 1919-20 as their Core Program Community Service Project. After conducting careful research in partnership with the staff of the Catherine McAuley Center, the Leadership Lackawanna Team selected different outdoor activity stations designed to stimulate learning and enhance creativity and social skills. The LL team gathered with staff members to bring this project to completion in the outdoor yard of the Catherine McAuley Center.

In the future, the new Outdoor Learning and Activity Center will serve as the host site for educational programs and special events for the parents and children we serve. Our plans are to continue to develop and expand on the Outdoor Activity Center by installing new learning stations as funding becomes available.

The Catherine McAuley Center would like to thank the following major funders for their generous support of this project: Abington Heights Civic League Dr. Jen’s Hope Fund of The Luzerne Foundation Leadership Lackawanna Class of 2020 Mattioli Foundation Peoples Security Charitable Foundation PNC Fund of United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties Walmart Community Grants 17 Financials

JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020 EXPENSES Housing Programs and Services $1,168,413.00 Management and General Operations $291,495.00 Fundraising $18,181.00

18 CURRENT ASSETS Total Current Liabilities $303,678 Cash $870,907 CDs $104,393 Long-Term Debt $71,897 Investments $4,207,108 Total Liabilities $375,575 Grants Receivable $26,258 Prepaid Expenses $6,965 NET ASSETS Total Assets $5,216,631 With Donor Restrictions $5,602,731 Property & Equipment Without Donor Restriction $109,973 $871,648 Total Net Assets $5,712,704 TOTAL $6,088,279 TOTAL $6,088,279

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Current Maturities $246,048 Accrued and witheld payroll taxes $6,620 Security Deposit $4,533 Funds in Custody $2,076 Accrued wages & compensated absences $44,401

The operations and finances of the Catherine McAuley Center speak to our commitment to both fiscal vigilance and the importance of using our financial resources to support our mission. An impressive 79% of all operating expenses directly support our programs, providing housing and supportive services to women and children experiencing homelessness.

The Catherine McAuley Center has received a 100 out of 100 rating by Charity Navigator through their Encompass Rating System, a comprehensive evaluation tool that analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators. Charity Navigator’s third-party accreditation validates our organization’s operational excellence.

Financials 19 Racism & Homelessness

With the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement came a new and deeper examination of the issue of systemic racism. For the clients of the Catherine McAuley Center, racial discrimination remains a constant in their daily lives. While people of color only constitute 16.2 and 20 percent of the populations of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, respectively, 62 percent of our clients identify as Black, Latinx, or multiracial.

The disproportionate number of clients of color speaks to the impact of racism on homelessness and poverty, here in our own local communities. Our women confront racial injustice in their search for safe housing and secure employment. Families face hostility when they move into neighborhoods and their children enroll in school.

To address these issues, the Catherine McAuley Center formed an Anti-Racism Committee comprised of key staff members. This committee coordinated a series of workshops, group discussions, and guest speakers to explore racism in greater depth. Moving forward, the Committee will continue to define ways our organization can speak out against racism and advocate for our clients.

Ethnic Demographic Data of Catherine McAuley Center Clients Served Black/African American 27% Hispanic/Latinx (of any race) 22% Multiracial 14% White 37%

* DATA FROM CENSUS.GOV / HMIS

20 Board of Directors / Staff

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers Mary Griffin Cummings, Esq., Chair

Members Sally Alinikoff Sr. Mary Ellen Brody, RSM Judith Burkavage Stephen H. Franko Anne Paone Gallagher Sr. Dorothy Hagan, RSM Julie Jordan “The ache for home lives Sr. Angela Kim, IHM Cheryl McCann in all of us. The safe place Patrick McMahon where we can go as we are Barbara O’Donnell ― Maya Angelou Carlie Wetzel and not be questioned.” STAFF

Krista Somers Executive Director Sr. Susan Hadzima, IHM Director of Programs Sr. Kathleen Smith, RSM Mission Coordinator

Tara Gillick Case Manager Sr. Rose Gregorio, IHM Case Manager Brooke Grunza Case Manager Nicole Guzenski Case Manager Tara Joyce Case Manager Eileen King Case Manager

Diane Matteo Outreach Coordinator, Plymouth Shelter Emilia Rosas Case Manager, Plymouth Shelter Jenny Blanchard Development Coordinator Alicia Grega Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Lisa Heim Finance Office Barbara Zigmont Finance Office David Puerner Maintenance

21 COVID & Homelessness

Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis

In early spring the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic became a daily reality in the lives of our clients and the operations of the Catherine McAuley Center. The issue of homelessness has taken on a new and urgent significance during this crisis. How do you shelter in place when you are homeless? Unhoused people have been identified as the population most at risk for infection and transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The Catherine McAuley Center has remained vigilant during this crisis in continuing to provide housing with limited interruption for every individual and family under our care. We have also continued to respond to requests for assistance through our Family Support Program, helping families to access community resources and service. We work with a highly vulnerable population of homeless women and children. The fear and uncertainty that many of us have experienced for the first time during the COVID-19 crisis is a constant way of life for our homeless families. They struggle to survive during the best of times. The economic disruption and hardship caused by the pandemic have made it increasingly difficult for our clients to secure and sustain employment. As the full economic impact of COVID-19 is felt throughout our local communities, the number of homeless families in need of stable, secure housing will continue to grow. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought economic hardship to many individuals, organizations, and local businesses. Due to public health concerns, the Center was compelled to cancel special events and key fundraising activities that generated significant income in past years. For the first time in 26 years, we did not hold the annual Swing for Mercy Golf Tournament, our most successful fundraising event. Despite these challenges, we are humbled and deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from an extraordinarily generous community of donors.

Data from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, taken between November 25 and December 7, found that 35.3 percent of U.S. adults are “living in households not current on rent or mortgage where eviction or foreclosure in the next two months is either very likely or somewhat likely.” 22 action items

ORGANIZE A DONATION DRIVE VOLUNTEER AT SPECIAL EVENTS Our families need the same household Our holiday celebrations would not be supplies that you use in your own home. possible without the support of an amazing While these may seem like basic items that group of volunteers. From leading children many of us take for granted, they are luxuries on Easter Egg hunts to baking cookies for for a family experiencing homelessness. our Mother’s Day Tea, these service-minded Paper goods, toiletries, cleaning products, individuals share their special talents and and diapers are not covered by food their time to bring joy to the homeless stamp programs, and yet they are critical families we see and work with every day. to any family setting up home in their own apartment. RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS You can host a donation drive through your Many people are surprised to learn workplace, school, community of faith, civic that homelessness is a real issue in association, or any other community group. our community. They may associate The Catherine McAuley Center will help you homelessness with large urban centers to promote your project, and we can arrange where the problem is more visible. Homeless to pick up the items you collect when your families often remain unseen, spending the donation drive is complete. night on couches or on the floor of relatives and friends, or sleeping in a car or abandoned COORDINATE A SERVICE PROJECT building. While the onset of COVID-19 has made it difficult for us to offer a full range of You can bring attention to the issues of volunteer service opportunities, we still homelessness by sharing the work of the welcome and appreciate ideas for projects Catherine McAuley Center with your own that can be organized safely. Our Emergency circle of contacts. As more people become Shelters and Residences are always in need aware of the reality of homelessness in our of yard clean-up and gardening at different local community, we can work together to points throughout the year. address the needs of homeless individuals and families.

DONATE Monetary donations make our mission possible. Your gifts are present in the lives transformed by your generosity. Consider making a gift in support of our new Emergency Rental Assistance Fund. Created through the generosity of two anonymous donors, this special fund provides support for people facing possible eviction or homelessness due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At left: Women Teachers of Scranton 23 Donation Drive The art work appearing on our M.O.M. annual appeal cards this year was created for the Catherine McAuley Center and donated by artist Miranda Pikul.

What does homelessness look like? Women and children experiencing homelessness are invisible to most of us from the comfort and safety of our homes. Homeless families remain unseen as they spend the night on the couches and floors of friends or relatives, sleep in their cars or in abandoned buildings. At the Catherine McAuley Center, the plight of homeless women and children is a harsh reality we face every day here in our own neighborhoods. We see families displaced by lost jobs and income, or overwhelmed with medical bills and the responsibility of a special needs child. They struggle to find transportation to work and day care for their children. Families experiencing homelessness send their children to our schools. They work in local restaurants, grocery stores and warehouses. They can be found cleaning our homes, offices, and motel rooms. We see them every day but do not recognize them as homeless.

Catherine McAuley Center Catherine McAuley House 430 Pittston Avenue 121 Church Street Scranton, PA 18505 Plymouth, PA 18651 570-342-1342 570-779-2801 fax: 570-341-8018 fax: 570-779-5240 www.CatherineMcAuleyCenter.org