SAVANNAH, Ga. — On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Union Mission and West Construction cut the ribbon on the renovated Don and Kaye Kole Magdalene House, giving Savannah more room for mothers and children who have lost stable housing.
The shelter, run by Union Mission, is expected to begin housing families within about two weeks. Its staff is on site around the clock. After a long renovation, the house has eight bedrooms, each with a private bath, plus a pair of kitchens, shared family spaces and a computer lab for kids.
The house is billed as emergency housing for families experiencing homelessness, and its reopening comes as Savannah deals with housing affordability pressure, with median home prices elevated relative to local wages.
Families can stay as long as 90 days. During that time, staff offer case management, mental health care, job leads and help with child care.
West Construction Company President Matt West said the spaces set aside for kids matter to him because children need a place where they can concentrate on school. He said a single mother raised him for part of his childhood and he knows how hard that can be.
Lamonica Graham, who manages emergency services and permanent supportive housing at Union Mission, said that even one night in the house means a mother and her children have stable housing. Michael Traynor, the organization’s president and chief executive, said helping a family overcome obstacles and move into housing is a big victory for everyone involved, and it makes for more productive citizens in the community.
