Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
ALMOST HOME
ALMOST HOME. Prior to 2010, Rick Mihm, Mission Director for the DUBUQUE RESCUE MISSION called local downtown churches asking their pastors if they could host an occasional person when the Mission's facilities had reached capacity. The calls became more frequent leading in 2010 to the establishment of "The Guest House" which was dedicated to providing emergency shelter and resources for single men with custody of their children. Guest house units were located in ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Men also came to the ministry's clothing giveaway, the Open Closet," in search of clothing for their children. Gwen Kirchhof, executive director of The Guest House, realized that while women would have been directed to the YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.W.C.A.) no similar agency was available for men with dependents. Almost Home became, by her estimate, became the fourth men-with-kids shelter in the United States. The Need for the services boomed during the PANDEMIC. (1)
In June, 2022 there were two units in what was once the parsonage. There were plans to create three more units after receiving a Big Dream grant provided by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The units provided a safe place for the men to obtain other services from Almost Home including help finding employment and permanent housing. (2)
In September, 2022 the reopened Guest House was located on White Street across from the new DUBUQUE FOOD PANTRY. The first two families--fathers with up to three children--were scheduled to live on the on the third floor with separate rooms for each family and a shared kitchen and living room. Remodeling scheduled for October would provide space for another three families. A planned cooking class was scheduled at CONVIVIUM URBAN FARMSTEAD. (3)
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Source:
1. Irvine, Joshua, "Shelter to Serve Men with Children," Telegraph Herald, September 22, 2022, p. 1A
2. London, Michelle, "Almost Home's Party on Purpose Will Raise Funds to Aid Single Dads," Telegraph Herald, May 31, 2022, p. 2A
3. Irvine, p. 3A