September 2002

Eastern Avenue has transitioned from project to home. An Americorp volunteer, grandmother, two mothers, and two wonderful baby boys call Eastern Avenue home! We are so grateful for the support and sweat of the many volunteers that made this possible. A grandfather living at Mary House has brought new color to the neighborhoods by painting the exteriors of four of the properties, and a beautiful wall mural has been added to the Afterschool Program by one of the fathers. This is the year of babies with twelve of the children currently living at Mary House two and younger. The Mary House Board has expanded to include two Advisory Board positions for Mary House mothers. This year seven families moved from Mary House into home ownership and permanent housing.

June 2001

As with the entire world, September 11th brought chaos and change to the families of Mary House. We have responded with expanded support services for parents. Our food pantry now serves more families, and a mothers advocacy and support project was launched with twenty two mothers representing more than twelve countries attended the first meeting. This has been a year of completed tasks and new beginnings. Holy Trinity of Georgetown is providing volunteers and hard work to bring the Eastern Avenue project along. Mary House continues to rely on the Americorp Program for its live in staff with four volunteers this year. Two families of Mary House welcomed new life into the world, and six of our families moved from Mary House into home ownership.

June 2000

May 2000

We are very excited about our newest site in Takoma Park, Maryland. This site was officially donated to Mary House on May 10th, 1999, after settling the estate and fulfilling the wishes of Mary Ellen Chelsey Rodriguez to have her four bedroom, $155,000 home given to the homeless. However, this generous gift comes to us with a challenge: the twelve-month long remodeling project needed to bring the house back to life. This will include gutting the old plaster walls, replacing wiring and plumbing, installing new bathroom and kitchen fixtures, and painting the interior and exterior of the house. After the renovations are completed with the help of local student volunteer teams supplemented by skilled paid labor, it will be able to house a family of up to 10 people. Mary House remains on of the only shelter and housing programs that can accommodate families of this size together in one home.