Homelessness is a continuing struggle for many people in Northwest Indiana. Finding hope in the midst of unimaginable pain and suffering can be daunting, and for many who find themselves without a place to live getting back on their feet can seem impossible. Providing some light at the end of the tunnel, though, is Gabriel’s Horn Temporary Shelter for Homeless Women.
Gabriel’s Horn was formed in 2003 by a Board of Directors made up of local business and community leaders who saw a need within their community and decided to do something about it. Starting out as seven individuals with little to no funds, Gabriel’s Horn Corporation has grown over the years to help over 300 families find shelter and break the cycle of homelessness. It’s become a protected refuge for women and their children and provides a safe, temporary housing facility that also provides the means to put their lives back together.
“We’re here to help these women and we want more than anything for them to be successful,” said Mignon Kennedy, Executive Director at Gabriel’s Horn. Kennedy, a graduate of Purdue Calumet and Indiana University Northwest with a Master’s in Social Work, has been working at the Shelter for nearly five years.
“We try to connect our residents with as many resources and services as we possibly can,” Kennedy said. “Transportation is a large part of what we do. Many women don’t have a vehicle so getting them to work, job interviews, school or doctor appointments is very important. We work with several partner agencies around the area, such as regional federal credit union, who hold workshops that provide financial training for our women to learn about finances and renting policies and insurance, things they might not have learned before but are so important. We also have a great relationship with Housing Opportunities and our residents are required to apply with them when they come here to begin finding themselves a home.”
One of the main services Gabriel’s Horn provides is their individual case management. “That’s something I love to do,” said Kennedy. “It’s basically the front lines and is so vital to what we do here. We meet about once a week and talk about major issues with the client. We identify and talk about what unique obstacles are in their way and keeping them from being independent and self-sufficient. It helps to create a positive outlook and generates hope for the future. We do whatever we can to start setting goals and taking steps that are small but reachable and we build on that.”
“It’s so incredibly rewarding to see families regularly turn their life around and move on to better things,” Kennedy said. “When moving day comes for them it’s exciting for everyone. They’re so happy but still so appreciative of the help and guidance we’ve been able to give them here.”
A point-in-time homeless count between 2013 and 2014 shows that homelessness in Porter County has increased. The number of persons homeless nearly tripled during that time. Gabriel’s Horn has been taking in a larger number of single women lately, but there are still an abundance of families who seek their services.
“The stigma of homelessness isn’t what it used to be,” said Marcia Griffin, House Manager at Gabriel’s Horn. Griffin, who is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and Nutrition Counselor has been with the organization for nearly a year.
“Many women are just working poor who don’t make enough money,” Griffin said. “They have jobs but those jobs don't pay enough to keep a roof over their head or feed and take care of themselves or their family. It’s not the alcoholic, the drug addict or the gambler; it’s the women living paycheck to paycheck trying to provide for herself or her family.”
“When women come here there defenses are up because they’ve been hurt by the world or let down by society,” Griffin continued. “Once they spend some time here they see that this is a safe place where people are going to help them get back on their feet. People who have love in their life do much better and can deal with and get past adversity.”
In 2006, Gabriel’s Horn was accepted by and partnered with the United Way of Porter County. This progress has provided credibility and financial support throughout the Porter County community. Other partnerships that have been vital to the non-profit organizations success are: WorkOne, regional federal credit union, Purdue University Cooperative Extension, and the Portage Resale Shop among others.
Resources are cherished and put to good use at Gabriel’s Horn and donations go a long way toward helping empower residents with the skills needed to become self-sufficient, productive citizens.
For more information, visit http://www.gabrielshelter.org/.