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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – With gold shovels and smiling faces, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City gathered at 9am Tuesday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of Sanctuary Women’s Development Center. The much-needed 9,000-square-foot facility expansion will be built at the site of the center at 2133 SW 11.
“The impact of our services is significant for those women and children living on the streets, ” said Theresa Flannery, senior director of family support services. “Sanctuary has served women and children in this space for 14 years. Imagine the influence we can make in a larger facility that’s more conducive to women and children escaping trauma.”
Those in attendance for the ceremony were Catholic Charities board members, capital campaign donors, supporters, former clients, foundational donors and members of the campaign’s leadership. Attendees were able to hear the testimonies of two prior Sanctuary clients who shared their story of homelessness and the impact of the center.
“I’ve been blessed with all the tools I need to survive on my own without no one ever harming,” shared Romaine Factory, a former Sanctuary client.
Construction is estimated at $5 million. Demolition on the current facility is expected to begin in mid-May with an anticipated opening in Spring of 2024.
Racheal Singley, director of Sanctuary, said they helped 45 women move from homelessness into permanent housing in 2022. She said the new Sanctuary building will bring more hope to more women in need.
“We realize that homelessness doesn’t have to mean hopelessness. Because there is hope. And it starts right here at Sanctuary.”
To learn more about Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Sanctuary Capital Campaign visit www.ccaokc.org or call (405) 523-3000.
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About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Guided by Catholic teaching, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City serves those in need, regardless of their faith, through transformative, empowering and dignity-affirming social service programs that seek to eliminate material, emotional and spiritual poverty across Central and Western Oklahoma.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City today announced a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Sanctuary Women’s Development Center to be held on Tuesday, May 2, at 9 a.m. at the site location at 2133 S.W. 11th Street in Oklahoma City. The event is open to the public.
The event will begin with a commemoration and blessing of the site by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley. Other speakers include Executive Director of Catholic Charities Patrick Raglow and Catholic Charities board member Mike Milligan. Campaign donors, prior Sanctuary clients and community dignitaries will be present for the ceremony.
“We have served women and children for 14 years in a building that has been falling apart. In that time we’ve seen more than 1,000 women achieve stable housing. We are thrilled to build on that legacy with the Sanctuary Capital Campaign which will increase the ability to provide showers, laundry, connection, training and best of all the transformative power of case management to an even greater number of women in need,” said Patrick Raglow.
The Catholic Charities Board of Directors unanimously approved a $5 million capital campaign to replace the existing structure with a new facility to serve more women and children experiencing homelessness. Any excess funds raised will be used in an endowment to ensure beautification and maintenance of the facility and to support operational needs.
Mass Architects created the architectural plans to mimic the design of the original mission church structure. Existing elements will be incorporated into the new structure including the cornerstone, the bell tower, the apex cross and more. Construction will be done by Miller-Tippins and costs are estimated at $5 million. Demolition will start in mid-May. The 9,000-square-foot day shelter is expected to be completed in 2023.
In order to speed construction and minimize expenses, Catholic Charities plans to relocate services currently provided at Sanctuary to the main service location on Classen Boulevard. Clients will still have access to showers, laundry, computers and case management.
“It will be a bit of a disupriton to our main location,” said Raglow, “but mroe importantly it will still be a ‘sanctuary’ to the ladies and children we serve.”
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About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Guided by Catholic teaching, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City serves those in need, regardless of their faith, through transformative, empowering and dignity-affirming social service programs that seek to eliminate material, emotional and spiritual poverty across Central and Western Oklahoma.