St. Margaret’s House (SMH) serves women of all ages and living situations; all live in poverty. Some suffer from mental illness, others struggle with alcohol or drug addiction, and many have been victims of sexual or physical abuse. Most live in subsidized housing, while some are homeless, living in cars, or on the couches of others. The organization serves 60-80 guests/day in summer, and 40-60 guests/day in winter.

SMH’s guests are some of the most wounded, vulnerable individuals in the South Bend region, and SMH is a vital source of consistency and support for them. They currently offer trauma-informed programming in the areas of parenting, spirituality, health issues, finances, yoga and meditation, and community-building circles.

To accomplish its mission, SMH works every day to do the following:

• Meet Immediate Needs: Attend to basic and immediate needs of hunger, for a shower, rest, decent clothing, toiletries, and access to a phone and computers.
• Provide Guest Services and Programming: Offer individualized attention, referrals, and programs to help women take concrete steps to improve their lives, with a particular focus on addressing the growing mental and emotional health needs of our guests.
• Create Community: Welcome women into a safe community of care and support that changes lives.