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Dear Friend(s) of Susanna Wesley House:

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Susanna Wesley House, we are happy to announce a new and exciting change that is taking place within the organization.

As you may know, Susanna Wesley House, located at 609 Park Avenue, was renovated in 2002 to provide transitional supportive housing for up to nine previously homeless women and their children. The prototype for the remodeled building was provided by our program partner of ten years (2002-2012); the Women's Housing Coalition (WHC).

Our work with WHC has been a successful journey; together we have housed and provided supportive services for 50+ families. With a landlord/tenant annual agreement, Susanna Wesley House has been responsible for property safety and maintenance, while Women's Housing Coalition offered supportive services to the residents via an onsite case manager.

Regrettably, Women's Housing Coalition has decided not to renew its lease for 2012, and will be offering its families other housing opportunities. Although we know that a continued partnership with WHC would have yielded continual success, we also understand that prudent leadership must do what is necessary and timely, in fulfilling its specified mission. We support Women's Housing Coalition and its residents during this transition, and we wish them our sincere best.

Fortunately, the mission of Susanna Wesley House will not falter as a result of this change. We have already identified a new and promising partner-the YWCA Greater Baltimore. As a long-standing organization in the state of Maryland, the YWCA's commitment to helping homeless women and children achieve greater self-sufficiency and happier, healthier lives-- is very consistent with the mission of Susanna Wesley House.

The YWCA's Chief Executive Officer, Mary Chesnut, has sat on the Susanna Wesley House's Building Committee for over a year. The Committee is overseeing the renovations of our other property at 607 Park Avenue. The primary purpose of the renovations is to restore the building so that SWH can offer additional supportive housing units for the homeless in Baltimore.

After considering our options for the future, amid Women's Housing Coalition's departure, we decided to ask the YWCA to not only maintain its support of the 607 Park project, but to partner with us at 609 Park. They agreed without hesitation. Similar to the relationship we had with WHC, Susanna Wesley House will oversee the property maintenance at 609, and the YWCA will provide onsite case management and supportive services to the new SWH residents.

The Board and staff of Susanna Wesley House are elated by this new endeavor; and with great anticipation, look forward to working with the YWCA. The YWCA's leadership has expressed mutual expectation and excitement. The two organizations already have a myriad of action plans in the works. We are a team; ready to make a difference in Baltimore.

We solicit your prayers, and thank you in advance for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Colleen Cates,
SWH Board President, Newly Appointed