Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia counties in Alabama and Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in the state of Florida
Description
Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast (MSGC) was incorporated in 2001 to address the needs of women experiencing an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. It is patterned on other existing and successful Mary's Shelters in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, California and Florida. The original founder of these Mary's Shelters, Jan Lindsay, was instrumental in founding MSGC, together with a core group of like-minded parishioners from St. Thomas-by-the-Sea Catholic Church in Orange Beach, Alabama. Thanks to the support of area churches, businesses and individuals who believed in our mission of providing a home to women who were homeless, pregnant and in danger of aborting their baby, the Shelter opened its doors in the spring of 2006.
The main area we serve covers the counties of Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia in Alabama, and Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in the state of Florida. These five counties average about 100 abortions per week. MSGC is the only charitable organization in this five-county area able to offer shelter and support to homeless, pregnant adult women, before and after the birth of their child.
Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors. The facility is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During the work day, our Executive Director oversees all aspects of operating the home. She is assisted by a Program Manager, who helps our residents set goals for their future, and meets with each resident on a regular basis to review their progress; an administrative assistant; and a grant researcher and writer. A housemother is always on the premises. Also, many volunteers help with all aspects of the program, from rocking babies, to preparing mailings and performing upkeep on our facility.
Please join Mary's Shelter as we continue to discern how best to accomplish our Vision of caring for homeless pregnant women who choose life for their unborn child.
Admission criteria
In order to be admitted to Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast, you must be:
- pregnant
- 19 years of age or older
- in need of a place to live.
If you are younger than 19, you may be admitted if you are eligible to be legally emancipated by the State of Alabama.
Additionally, you must be drug-free, and not currently suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. If you have a past of addiction, we may require that you undergo treatment in a recognized program before we consider admission.
If you already have children, it may be possible for you to bring one child age 2 or under.
You must also be willing to: •Participate in the family style of living established at the Shelter •Live under established rules •Work with our staff to establish goals for self-improvement and be committed to working on these goals
Procedure
Call us at 251-986-6200, or toll free at 866-823-4674. An initial telephone assessment will be conducted to determine eligibility. If you are found to not be eligible for our program, we will try to refer you elsewhere for assistance.
If we determine you are eligible for admission, and if room is available at the shelter, you will be asked to complete an application, submit documentation from your doctor and undergo a face-to-face interview. You can download and print for your doctor to fill out.
Facility
The Mary's Shelter home, constructed in 2005, is located in a peaceful, rural setting near Elberta, Alabama, within ten miles of Pensacola, Florida. We currently accept up to eight women residents (and children, if eligible).
Each bedroom suite is attractively furnished and decorated, and includes a private bathroom and walk-in closet. The communal kitchen, dining area, living room and children's play area are used by all the residents. There is also a resource room with computers and internet access, as well as a telephone for use by the residents.
The home features inviting, shaded porches overlooking a fenced play-yard. Please note that no smoking is allowed inside the shelter. Another room in the home is dedicated to our Empower Me store. Through the Empower Me program, mothers earn token dollars for participating in required training and classes; they use these 'dollars' to shop in the store for self-care items, household goods, clothing for themselves and their babies, etc.
One room is used by our live-in housemother. The front of the building houses administrative offices. Everything in the home is planned with the goal of providing a comfortable, calm, and safe residence for our mothers and babies.
In addition to those groups that are focused on providing Hurricane Michael relief support, there are many community organizations that provide services year round. We encourage you to reach out them.
You can help!
Your financial contributions help feed the hungry, clothe children, aid the homeless, strengthen families, enrich communities, and offer a broad range of charitable support to those in need.
Persistent needs exist for food, clothing, and shelter. Whether you're an individual volunteer or the leader of a charitable organization, we all have gifts to share… and we can all make a difference.