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CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – September,26, 2024 <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />area near St. James Church, St. Margaret's House, which provides <br />services to homeless women and children. The purpose of the <br />renovation and expansion is to have a more purposeful design geared <br />towards the needs of St. Margaret's house guests. With the funding, <br />they can serve more guests, have longer hours of operation and offer <br />more programming. This will also increase the safety and security of <br />their guests, staff and volunteers through the request. This would be <br />matching funding contingent of fundraising, so they're embarking on a <br />capital campaign. Ms. Schaefer reminded that the Pokagon Fund is to <br />be used for education, health and poverty reduction. <br /> <br />Ms. Katie Elliott and Ms. Lauren Smith from St. Margaret's House <br />thanked the Commission for the opportunity to speak. Ms. Elliott also <br />thanked staffs for all their help as well. Ms. Elliott stated that guests <br />live in deep poverty, and they are the primary place of support for <br />them. These are essential and tangible needs, but also their spiritual, <br />emotional needs and are the primary provider for many of the women <br />they see every day and what's good for St. Margaret's house health is <br />good for South Bend. <br /> <br />Ms. Elliott explained the needs of women they serve has increased <br />and the request would help with the projected increase in meals <br />served, programming rooms and spaces, loads of laundry, increased <br />hours of operation to meet critical gaps and serve full hot breakfast and <br />hot lunches daily. She stated that they have been working with an <br />architect for 18 months into the planning of this renovation and will <br />continue design, refinement and another key part is to redesign the <br />green space on the corner of Lafayette in Washington for not only the <br />benefit of St. James and St. Margaret’s House but the downtown <br />community as well. <br /> <br />Vice President David Relos asked if this is a new build and Ms. Elliott <br />explained it is a complete redesign and will expand to the South and <br />reorient the doors so that they're more visible to the South Bend <br />community. The $7.5 renovation of the three-story (+basement) <br />building with have a proper entryway for safety reasons to be able to <br />assess and greet people at the door and approve if they're not well <br />enough to come into the building either physically or emotionally. Ms. <br />Elliott stated that they have $3.3 committed at this point. <br /> <br />Commissioner Eli Wax asked how many women are serviced in a year <br />and Ms. Elliott said about 1000 and approximately 70 women and <br />children per day. <br /> <br />Upon a motion by Secretary Vivian Sallie for approval, seconded by <br />Vice President David Relos, the motion carried unanimously; the