Low staffing pauses non-profit housing program
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Housing and shelter services at Hannah’s House are coming to an end, at least for now.
The faith-based pro-life non-profit has been supporting expecting mothers in need for more than 40 years. Nearly 30 years of that has been spent providing a roof over their heads.
The pause in the shelter program also means the two staff members who kept the house running are out of a job.
“We go through a lot but it was my calling. So, I stayed and I stayed and I stayed. I would have stayed forever because that’s what the lord wanted me to do, ” said Barbara Hammond, a former house manager for the non-profit.
She says for the last four and half years, she has helped clean, pack up donations, and support the residents in the four-bedroom house.
Four expecting mothers would stay at the house at a time.
Late last month, Hammond got this letter informing her that the shelter was temporarily closing its doors. It would not be accepting new residents due to a “lack of staff coverage”.
With a two-week notice in hand, Hammond says she wishes she was given more time.
“I’m just scared. I don’t know what’s next for me. You know, I have a part-time job that I fell back on and I drove all the way to Bath, Michigan today. Just to find out if they could give me some full-time work because my job is gone,” said Hammond.
The pause will last two to three weeks to allow for a focus on staff recruiting, according to Executive Director Susan Ayers.
The pause also means the house’s two residents, a mother and her baby, will have to move.
“They haven’t been given an end date. They’ve been encouraged to find another place,” said Ayers. “I have been calling other shelters so that their Section 8 shelter verification could be transferred to another shelter.”
Ayers says “Hanna’s House” will still offer services like giving out diapers and formula. She says while donations are appreciated, the goal now is to find enough women employees to staff the house.
“We are hopeful that we will regroup and be able to open soon. We’re very hopeful for that,” said Ayers.
In the meantime, she suggests that mothers in need reach out to other shelters, though she acknowledges that other shelters are running at capacity.
Ayers says laid-off staff could possibly get their jobs back when the shelter reopens.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
