| NEWS The Womens Housing Coalition operates the Margaret J. Bennett House in Baltimore. This award-winning home receives funding from the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, which invested in their work. A video, Sharing the Dream: A Place to Call Home, showcases the Margaret J. Bennett House and the boards investments in affording housing projects. Since 1990, these investments have helped create or renovate more than 20,000 affordable housing units in the United States. | Susanna Wesley house to open its doors in October BY MELISSA LAUBERUMConnection Staff  The Susanna Wesley House, a ministry of the Baltimore-Washington Conference United Methodist Women, is preparing to reopen its doors to women and children in need before November.
The repairs are going along beautifully, said Irene Callbeck who is on the board of directors of the historic Baltimore house that will be home to six women and their children. It is one of the few facilities in the city that provides a space for children to live while their mothers get themselves back on their feet, Callbeck said. The Susanna Wesley House, which closed two years ago because of financial and other difficulties, has entered into a partnership with the Womens Housing Coalition, which operates the prestigious Bennett House for women in transition. The Womens Housing Coalition will manage the houses programs, while the United Methodist Women will continue to be in ministry as landlords and stewards of the property. The $427,000 renovation to the house includes transforming 10 bedrooms into six two-room apartments. Each apartment will also have its own bathroom and every two apartments will share a kitchen and sitting room. A recently received grant will allow for new furnishings to be purchased for the apartments. The spacious downstairs dining room will be changed into a play and study room for the children. Contractors have reported they will complete the work by Oct. 15. Elaine Schaefer, who is overseeing the renovations for the United Methodist Women, applauds the efforts of several local churches that have contributed to the efforts. She especially thanks the Volunteer in Mission team from Wesley Freedom UMC, led by Jill Poole, and the youth and adults from St. Johns UMC in Lutherville, who were led by the Rev. Earl Mason. We shall be forever grateful, said Schaefer, who is seeking other groups that would like to work at the Susanna Wesley House. Financial contributions are also needed, now and in the future, Callbeck said. For more information or to volunteer, call Schaefer at (410) 433-5243 or Callbeck at (410) 437-4129. |
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