Sojourner House is pleased to announce the public phase of its $1.5M Capital Campaign to pay off the mortgage on its 1570 Westminster Street property in the West End of Providence, pay for needed repairs, and create an operating reserve fund for future building expenses. The new property, purchased in 2022, now houses the agency’s clinical, housing, immigration, and advocacy teams, and serves as the central Drop-In Center for clients. The Capital Campaign is led by a committee of volunteers who are engaging members of the community to support the work of Sojourner House. Donations will also support preservation and maintenance of this iconic, historic Mansard building that has been a cornerstone of the West End since 1876.
The campaign began its “quiet phase” in the fall of 2022 with an initial $250,000 grant from the Champlin Foundation. In February, Sojourner House received a second $250,000 “Challenge Grant” for the Capital Campaign from The Champlin Foundation. The Champlin Foundation awarded Sojourner House this matching grant to encourage and incentivize future gifts. All donations to the Capital Campaign will be matched dollar for dollar up to $250,000 if given or pledged by October 31, 2023.
In recent years, Sojourner House has seen a significant increase in the demand for its services. For example, where the agency provided 49,729 residential bed nights in 2019, it provided 99,068 in 2022. To meet this need, the agency grew– and grew some more! The agency’s operating budget has nearly doubled from $4 million in 2021 to close to $8 million this year. Additionally, it more than doubled its full-time staff, acquired additional property for its residential programs, added support groups and housing clinics, expanded their school-based advocacy program, and scaled up their services for human trafficking victims. With all of this growth, it became clear quickly that the agency needed more office space.
“Sojourner House has been in an organizational growth mode these last several years in order to better meet the demand for our housing, supportive services, and crisis intervention programs,” said Vanessa Volz, Executive Director of Sojourner House. “We are excited to expand our geographic footprint with the acquisition of this Westminster Street property, and we are grateful to the Champlin Foundation for their support of our work.”
Those interested in making a contribution to the Capital Campaign for 1570 Westminster Street can click the button below. Questions related to giving or the campaign in general can be sent to jcollins@sojournerri.org.