Deborah’s Place Locations
Like each member of our community, each Deborah’s Place location has a story.
Deborah’s Place:
When the first Board of Directors gathered to talk about naming the overnight shelter they were opening, they had two ideas. First, they wanted the shelter to be named for a woman. Secondly, they wanted the woman to have been known for her strength and not as someone’s wife or mother. The Board settled on the name DEBORAH. Deborah is the only female judge noted in the Old Testament. She was sought out by her people as a wise and fair judge.
Dolores’ Safe Haven:
Dolores was a woman who stayed at the Overnight Shelter and came to Irene’s Daytime Shelter for many years. She was smart, witty and loved a good book and conversation. Dolores died in 2003 in the company of Deborah’s Place volunteers and staff. Naming the Safe Haven after Dolores represents our commitment to respecting each individual woman’s choices and honoring her journey from homelessness to housing and a better quality of life.
Marah’s Permanent Housing:
The name Marah means “bitter herb” and comes from the Old Testament story of Naomi. There was a famine in the land where Naomi lived with her husband, two sons and two daughters-in-law. When the famine took the lives of Naomi’s husband and sons, Naomi decided to return to her homeland. When she arrived after her long and arduous journey, her kinswomen gathered around her and said, “Look, it is Naomi returned”. Naomi responded, “Do not call me Naomi, call me Marah, for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me”. People thought that the name Marah was appropriate because the women who stay at the permanent housing program have experienced much bitterness, grief and loss in their lives, but are very strong and have perservered.
Teresa’s Interim Housing:
The interim housing program of Deborah’s Place was named Teresa’s for Teresa Neuman. Teresa was a former participant of Marah’s and member of the Board of Directors of Deborah’s Place. She was very involved in the planning of the building at 1530 N. Sedgwick. Teresa died on December 18, 1994 after a struggle with cancer. Board and staff felt that naming what was then the transitional shelter program for her was a fitting tribute to her strength and leadership.
Patty Crowley Apartments:
The 39-unit apartments of Deborah’s Place were named for Patty Crowley. Patty is one of the original founding mothers of Deborah’s Place. Throughout her life, she was an active leader in social justice advocacy and a long-term, generous supporter of Deborah’s Place. In honor of Patty’s 90th birthday, the Deborah’s Place Board of Directors renamed the (formerly Deborah’s Place II) apartments after Patty Crowley.