In the early years, St. Margaret’s House was staffed by a group of about 15 dedicated volunteers and a part-time director. They served 12 to 25 women and children a day, a mix of single moms with children and older women who lived alone. In 1994, St. Margaret’s House was incorporated as an Indiana not-for-profit organization. In 2012, St. Margaret’s House received the Leighton Award for Non-Profit Excellence from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and was named runner-up in 2021.

Over the years the building has been renovated many times to accommodate our growth. We have gone from occupying only one floor to using all three floors and the basement. Today, a paid staff of 18 and a weekly volunteer crew of 200 serve an average of 70 women and children a day, offering a broad range of services and programs. In response to the tremendous and growing need for our services, we are currently in the midst of a $7.5M building renovation and expansion to ensure that St. Margaret’s House will thrive for the next 35 years and beyond.

Every day, we respect the dignity of the women and children who walk through our doors, and see them for their gifts and talents rather than their circumstances. Perhaps the most impactful thing that happens at St. Margaret’s House is that frequently marginalized and misunderstood women find community and connection, a sense of sisterhood changes all of our lives.