The Dumas Wesley Community Center and the Baldwin Family Village Foundation are proud to announce the launch of a 13-unit facility that will provide transitional housing and support services for women and children experiencing homelessness – the Baldwin Family Village. The Baldwin Family Village will operate as a program of the Dumas Wesley Community Center and is slated to open in April, 2023.
The $700,000 property was purchased by a coalition of churches, businesses and individuals, which was spearheaded by Fairhope United Methodist Church. “The inspiration for this vision is borne out of our recognition of genuine need. As we come to understand the stories of those who suffer in our communities, we feel called to respond with compassionate action. As the challenge of homelessness is a growing concern for the residents of Baldwin County, so must be the breadth of our collaborative response,” said Dr. Darren McClellan, Senior Pastor of Fairhope United Methodist Church.
According to United Way of Southwest Alabama’s *211, 1/3 of the calls they receive for Baldwin County are related to homelessness and/or housing assistance. In 2021, Housing First reported 3,200 individuals were in housing crisis in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. According to the Baldwin County Public School System, 300 school-age children were reported homeless on any given night in Baldwin County.
The Dumas Wesley Community Center has been operating the Sybil Smith Family Village transitional housing program in Mobile since 1999. The Sybil Smith Family Village boasts an 87% success rate among residents moving into permanent housing. This statistic is 17% higher than the national average, according to HUD. Dumas Wesley will replicate the Sybil Smith Family Village model at the Baldwin Family Village, which is expected to house approximately 100 homeless women children annually.
To learn more about the Baldwin Family Village Foundation’s efforts to support the Baldwin Family Village click here.
For questions about how you can get involved please email: baldwinfamilyvillagefoundation@gmail.com