Laura McCurdy

Sojourner House, Inc.

Sojourner House provides compassionate, faith-based, in-patient residential recovery services to mothers and children in the Pittsburgh area. We help addicted mothers learn to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and chemical abuse while rebuilding damaged relationships with their children. Sojourner House believes women can shatter the chains of addiction and hopelessness when surrounded by what means most to them: their children. Sojourner House, Inc. named after the great African American preacher, Sojourner Truth, was founded in 1991 by a group of women from Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church. Twenty-six representatives from Pittsburgh's social service agencies gathered to identify potential solutions to problems that affect women's lives. During this gathering, it was discovered that many women do not seek help for their addictions for fear they will lose their children and that there were far fewer rehabilitation programs for women than men. The consensus was that drug and alcohol addicted mothers with their children were the group in greatest need and should be the prime target for urgent and significant aid. Between 1991 and 1994, Sojourner House operated under the umbrella of the East End Cooperative Ministry. In 1994, Sojourner House successfully applied for its own nonprofit status and became licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as a "women with children" residential rehabilitation facility. Its goal is to help families to successfully continue their recovery journey, focusing on strengthening family relationships, promoting self-sufficiency, long term sobriety, and mental health stability. With this in mind, Sojourner House MOMS (Mentoring, Opportunity, Motivation, Spirituality) was created in 2004 to provide permanent, supportive recovery housing to homeless, dual-diagnosed single parents and their children. Follow us, work with us, volunteer, donate, get help ... Please visit our website to learn more ...