By HOLLY GASKILL

Anticipated to open Oct. 23, Hannah’s House hosted an open house Tuesday to share its mission with the public. 

Hannah’s House, located at 319 S Marion St. in Bluffton, was open to the public on Tuesday. The home will operate as a place for healing and recovery before women are ready for Grace and Mercy Transitional Housing. Above, Kelley Householder, former executive director for Community Care, and a volunteer welcome guests into the home. (Photo by Holly Gaskill)

The home falls under the umbrella of Community Care of Northeast Indiana but holds a unique role in rehabilitation. Whereas Grace and Mercy Transitional Housing focuses on providing support for women to be able to support themselves, Hannah’s House will be solely focused on healing. 

Residents of the home, located at 319 S. Marion St. in Bluffton, will spend three to six months at a time dedicated to recovering their individual circumstances, guided by the schedule and direction of Hannah’s House staff. This includes regular attendance of support groups, physical improvement at the YMCA, and other opportunities. During this time, the women will not hold jobs or have their cell phones or vehicles to limit distractions. Although there will be regular visiting hours, the home is not meant for children.

Christine Walker, current director for Community Care, speaks with guests during the Hannah’s House open house Tuesday. She is pictured in the home’s living room, which offers ample seating, welcoming decor, and comfortable amenities. (Photo by Holly Gaskill)

Ultimately, the ministry intends to graduate its residents into the Grace and Mercy home, where they’ll then work on building a resume and other skills needed to live successfully and independently.

Hannah’s House is equipped to serve seven women at a time but currently has six beds in the home. Grace and Mercy Program Director Bethanie Burns advised the organization plans to open Hannah’s House with three residents and work up to full capacity by the end of the year. The home will serve northeast Indiana but has a prominent focus on serving women in Wells and Huntington counties.

The house itself is equipped with several bedrooms and bathrooms, in-house laundry, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and a patio area. A full-time employee will live in the home with the women, and at least one other employee will manage day-to-day schedules, activities, and transportation.

While Hannah’s House will begin its operations in the coming weeks, Rachel Reinhard, Grace and Mercy operations manager, noted the home still has multiple physical needs and is supported by ongoing grants and donations. An Amazon wishlist is available on the Community Care Facebook page. Community members can also contact Andrea Dimond at 260-224-0977 for other donation questions.

holly@news-banner.com

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