Sarah’s mission is to provide hospitality for women in transition who are seeking housing, community and safety.

Dear Friends,

As Advisory Council members at Sarah's, we have come to appreciate the meaning and power of the six mantras frequently shared by staff and residents. They are:

“You come to Sarah’s in order to leave.”

“You are a good woman.”

“May peacemaking prevail on Earth today.”

“You can do it!”

“Sarah’s will always be your home.”

“One lesson at a time. One woman at a time. One day at a time.”

Two in particular have inspired us in the way they embody aspects of this unique program that has served over 600 women during the past 16 years.

"You come to Sarah's in order to leave." Sarah's is truly home for all its residents -- a place of beauty, community, and security. But it is not the final destination on any resident's journey. That will be housing that each woman can secure and maintain as she grows through self-empowerment into more independent living. This mantra also provides a fitting close to a resident's stay at Sarah's and a marker of the transformation that she has experienced as a resident.

"May peacemaking prevail on Earth today!" One can't hear this urgent wish too many times! It is a potent reminder for all of us of our desire for a more peaceful and loving world. It reminds us of our individual responsibility to create that world through how we live our daily lives, no matter what our circumstances. We are all called to take personal actions to live into peace-filled lives that will help move us collectively closer to achieving our vision for peace -- within ourselves and in our homes, communities, and the broader world.

As members of the Advisory Council, we celebrate the great gift that Sarah’s has been to the many residents who have stayed here as they rekindle their spirits and dreams for the future. We are grateful for the outstanding leadership that each director of Sarah’s has brought to this program during the past 16 years, and for all staff members and volunteers who have given so generously of their time, talents, and treasure. Thank you to all!

With passion and faith that one day peacemaking will prevail on Earth,

Cheryl Mary

Cheryl Maloney, D.Min, Chair 2008-2012 Mary Hunt, Chair-elect

- Former Sarah’s Resident 2012

“From Sarah’s, I got confidence, I got to accomplish my dreams, I got hope.”

Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women Annual Report

Providing housing, safety and community for women in transition

July1, 2011– June 30, 2012

Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women is a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province

Residents’ Accomplishments

Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women is a home for women in transition. Transition means something different for each woman who comes to Sarah’s to find safety, housing and community. All women who call Sarah’s home have experienced difficult life circumstances and with the life skill development and in-home support that Sarah’s provides, they are able to restart their

lives. In 2012, 43 women called Sarah’s home. 13 moved on and Sarah’s ended the year at capacity with 30 still in residence.

Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women is a unique place with a unique approach. You can find more information about Sarah's community-based, collaborative self-empowerment approach to providing services as well as demographic data on the insert. Listed below are just some of the accomplishments of the women who called Sarah’s home this year.

Education

Health and Family

Legal/ Immigration

All women who live at Sarah’s work or go to school or do

both. 44% of residents are either in process or have

completed a job training program. This year, 46% of

Sarah’s women attended English Language classes and

23% were enrolled in college.

Learning to navigate the immigration system can be challenging for anyone. This year, the following goals were accomplished by some of the women at Sarah’s: obtaining an immigration attorney, preparing for immigration proceedings, applying for and/or obtaining asylum, applying for and/or obtaining permanent residence, becoming a US citizen.

Additionally, other legal challenges were overcome including paying taxes, filing for and/or obtaining divorce and filing for and/or obtaining an order of protection.

Certified Nursing Assistant

53%

Customer Service Training

21%

Other26%

Training Programs Attended (in process and completed)

“At Sarah’s, I was able to go to school. If I was homeless, I could not

have had the good GPA I had. I could not study like I could at Sarah’s. I wouldn’t have met my full potential.” ~Former Resident*

“ Now, I am healthy, I have enough money to survive, I am respected, I am confident, I have a good education.” ~Former Resident*

This year, 5 women worked on reuniting with their families. Sarah’s provides phone cards and other support to facilitate the stressful reunification process.

Many health issues were addressed this year. Physical, emotional and psychological healing are an important part of every woman’s journey toward health. Sarah’s staff works to ensure that every woman has access to the care and support she needs to reach her health related goals. These often include obtaining health insurance, exercising, addressing trauma-related issues, having an eye exam and getting glasses, having postponed medical and/or dental procedures and other goals.

Work and Income

Transportation Permanent Housing

This year, 24 women obtained a job while living at Sarah’s. 3 women volunteered outside the house and 3 women volunteered as Resident Staff at Sarah’s. On average, those who were employed worked 25 hours per week.

Part-time56%Full-time

24%

On call20%

Resident Employment 58% of all residents were employed

Those who are able are asked to contribute toward their living expenses based on their income. The average living expense paid was $150 per month. This covers approximately 20% of the cost of housing, utilities and food.

“ I didn’t have work or a place to live before

Sarah’s. Now, I have a job and place to live permanently. Life is changed– I would not be

here today except for Sarah’s.” ~Former Resident*

Subsidized or public housing

46%

Friend or family member

23%

Market rate housing (alone

or with roomate)31%

Where did women go after Sarah's?

$174

$850

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$800

$900

Average Monthy IncomeNow *

Upon Arrival

This year, the average stay at Sarah’s was 17 months. A year and a half is the expected amount of time that a woman will need Sarah’s during her transition. Sarah’s is often a step in a long process each woman takes toward more independent living.

When they arrive, none of Sarah's residents have any other safe housing options. 85% of former residents have safe permanent housing after living at Sarah’s.*

* This information came from a resent survey of a cross section of all former residents.

Most (70%) of Sarah’s residents use the bus to get to school, work, church, job interviews, doctors appointments, etc. Some (30%) are fortunate enough to be able to buy/lease a car or get one from a relative or friend. Either way, determining transportation plans as well as budgeting for transportation are important life skills that are developed at Sarah’s.

This year, 40% of Sarah’s residents participated in the Cycles for Change Community Partner Bike Library. Of this group, 72% had little to no experience riding a bicycle. With frequent learn to ride classes and lots of support, Sarah’s residents have gained an additional transportation option as well as a lot of confidence and independence.

Safe and reliable housing is just the first step on each resident’s journey toward a new life. Residents receive referrals and on-site support, which enable them to build the connections and confidence they need to independently take steps toward their goals. Sarah’s refers women to volunteer and paid employment opportunities, job search services, health and insurance services, legal services, permanent housing, and education and training opportunities. Below are some of the service organizations that Sarah’s collaborates with . This community-based empowerment model ensures that when women move from Sarah’s, they are not dependent on the staff or community they found here but have the networks and skills they need to advocate for themselves going forward.

About Sarah’s Services

Permanent Housing and Social Services · Aeon Housing (subsidized & affordable housing)

· Center for Victims of Torture

· CommonBond (subsidized senior & affordable housing)

· Dress for Success (professional clothing)

· Hennepin County Medical Center

· HousingLink.org

· International Institute

· Minneapolis Public Housing

· Ready for Success (professional clothing)

· St. Paul Library System

· St. Paul Public Housing

Health, Spirituality, & Family Reunification

· American Red Cross

· Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)

· Community Dental Care

· Consociates, Sisters, Volunteers & other friends of Sarah’s (moving helper, healing massage; knitting circle, natural body & cleaning products, etc.)

· Hennepin County Medical Center

· Healtheast St. Joseph’s Hospital

· Lens Crafters-Gift of Sight

· MN Care

· Open Cities

· Places of Worship & Sarah’s Chapel

· Portico Healthnet Insurance

· Regions Hospital

· Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality

· St. Mary’s Health Clinics

Education & Training · AccessAbility Minnesota

· American Indian OIC

· American Red Cross

· Century College

· Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

· Goodwill/Easter Seals

· Hubbs Center, St. Paul Schools

· Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps

· International Institute of MN

· Lehmann Center, MPLS Public Schools

· LifeTrack Resources

· Metro State University

· Midwest Careers Institute

· Minneapolis Community & Technical College

· MN African Women’s Association (MAWA)

· MN Literacy Council

· St. Paul College

Work Placement, Income, & Financial Services · AccessAbility

· AccountAbility Minnesota (tax preparation)

· American Indian OIC (CNA placement

· Associated Bank (community banking/education)

· Bloomington Community Center (tax preparation)

· Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)

· Goodwill/Easter Seals

· Hennepin County Economic Assistance

· International Institute of Minnesota

· Jewish Family Services

· LifeTrack Resources

· Midwest Careers Institute

· MN African Women’s Association (MAWA

· MN Work Force Center

· Ramsey County Economic Assistance

· St. Paul Public Library System (tax preparation)

· Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE)

Legal/Immigration Services · Advocates for Human Rights

· Attorney friends of Sarah’s

· Bridges to Safety

· Hennepin County Family Justice Center

· Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

· International Institute (Citizenship Program)

· Lutheran Social Services (Citizenship Program)

· Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

Transportation

· Cycles for Change Community Partner Bike Library

· Metro Transit Discount Pass Program

About Sarah’s Residents July 1, 2011– June 30, 2012

20

13

7

12

20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69

Women's Ages Average Age=33

The Center for Victims of

Torture 16%

Current or Former

Resident 30%

Educational Institution

12%

Health Organization

7%

Legal Organization

5%

Other 21%

Religious Organization

5%

Shelter 5%

Referral Sources

11

6

7

5

10

4

1-6 months

7-12 months

13-18 months

19-23 months

24-36 months

37+ months

Length of StayAverage Stay = 17 months

11

6

7

5

10

4

1-6 months 7-12 months 13-18 months 19-23 months 24-36 months 37+ months

Length of time in US before arriving at Sarah's

In addition to housing, community and safety, Sarah’s provides residents with opportunities to develop life skills. New residents complete a survey assessing experience with life skills that are needed in the US. Then, a strategy for developing needed skills is incorporated into each woman’s goal plan. Many times, it is the staff here at Sarah’s who mentor women in the areas needing development. Some of these include:

Resume writing & employment etiquette: Staff assures each woman writes a resume and saves it on a flash drive, working with an

outside service provider whenever possible.

Budget planning & banking: Sarah’s connects women with services to learn about using bank accounts. Residents also work with

the Director to create a basic budget plan while establishing the monthly financial contribution she will make to Sarah’s.

Cooking & food planning: Sarah’s staff mentors about costs of different types of food (canned or frozen vs. fresh or organic), how to

balance health and cost, and how to use healthy basic and local food ingredients which may be new to them. Additionally, each

woman shares in the preparation of community meals and many participate in keeping a plot in Sarah’s community garden or

contribute to the house plots by planting, weeding or watering.

Household management skills: Many standard household practices in the US are unfamiliar to some residents. At Sarah’s, all resi-

dents learn how to care for themselves and their home in an earth-friendly way. For example, residents learn how to: use a washer,

dryer and vacuum, stay organized, set a dinner table, knit, use non-toxic products, conserve electricity, compost, and recycle.

Safety, peace building and living in community: Women at Sarah’s are a very diverse group and find ways of being supportive to

each other and learn how to live in peace among people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Sarah’s is an intercultural and interfaith home for women in transition. This year, 43 women called

Sarah’s home. These women are originally from 13 countries (listed on the sides) and speak over 12

languages. Below are some other details about Sarah’s residents.

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Individual Donors Kimberly Anderson

Wachen Bedell Anderson

Mary Beckfeld

Marie Theresa Belanger, CSJ

Susan and Daniel Bembenek

Nancy and Robert Braschler

Carol and Brian Bruess

Philip Byrne

Stephanie Carlson

Susan Cotten

Mary Ellen Cunningham

Lauren and Edith Davies

Barbara Dickie

Loralee DiLorenzo

Mary Jane Doll in honor of Mary Rausch

Michael Donahue and Bonnie Wek

Ayoko Foli

The Estate of Marie Fourre Russ

W. Curtis and Dawn Galloway

Deb Hannasch

Mary Hasbrouck, CSJ

Sonia Hazard

Nora and Gordon Hoff

Mary Hunt

Cecilia Jaisle

Erik and Karen Jothen

Maeze Kiflemariam

Margaret L. Kvasnicka, CSJ

Anne and Charles Leck

Philip and Juliana Ledermann

Rosie Lee

Cheryl Maloney

Virginia McCain

Beryl McHale

Michele Garnett McKenzie

John McKigney

Carolee Mengel

Debera and Keith Miner

Charles Muchlberg

Hercules and Wendy Muehlberg

John Nakasone

Thomas Norgel and Ellen Richter-Norgel

Constance and Matthew Northrup

Hilary Novacek and Nicolas Bundt

Thelma Obah

Linda Ovadia

Jean and William Pociengel

Kelly Povo

Dorothy Queen

Karleen Reller

Alisha Rhyner

Helen and James Rood

Stacy Rooney

James and Helen Rood in honor of Sister Agnes Iten, CSJ

Barbara and Timothy Ryan

Kathy Sallee

Amanda Skorich

Naomi Sobel and Diana Doty

R.E. Syverson

Heather Tracey

Russel Travis

Susan Weberg

Tara and Leonard Weiss

Kylie White

Meg and Mark Wilkes Karraker

Organizations and Corporations Center for Energy and Environ-ment

Midwest Sociological Society in honor of Meg Wilkes Karraker

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province

Soroptomist Foundation of Greater Minneapolis

St. Catherine University

St. Paul Area Council of Churches

Ten Thousand Villages

University of St. Thomas in honor of Pat Alexander

Foundations

Otto Bremer Foundation

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province Ministries Foundation

Target Foundation

The Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation

Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women is part of the CSJ Ministry Collaborative, a 501(c)3 designated nonprofit organization. Sarah’s is privately funded through the support of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province, foundations, corporations and individual donors. Their financial support ensures that Sarah’s is able to provide hospitality, life skill development and in-home support to foster the self-empowerment of women in transition.

We would also like to give our special thanks to

the following companies and individuals for their extraordinary gifts of time, talent or in-kind

support.

Pat Alexander

Altrusa Club

Amanda Ament

Kim Anderson

Wachen Bedell Anderson

Mary Beth Boyle

Breadsmith

Kristine Brelje

Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz, SSJ, TOSF

Cheri Bunker

Carondelet Center

Bernice Caruth (Shaklee)

Cretin Derham Hall students

Baya Clare, CSJ

Maija Clausen

Crave

Cycles for Change (C4C)

Barbara Dickie

Comfort Dondo-Dewey

Elk River Lutheran Church

Featherstone Farm

Kathy and Denny Getten

Michele Garnett McKenzie

Handbags with Heart (Marcia Meier and the team at the International Diabetes Center)

Hands On Painting

John Hartman

Deb Hannasch

Mary Hunt

Jonette Kreideweis

Margaret L. Kvasnicka, CSJ

Cheryl Maloney

Emilie Maua

Dan (Klecko) McGleno

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Brenda Mulry

Native Oaks Farm (Anne and Charles Leck)

Joan Pauly Schneider

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province

Debby Reisinger

Natalie Robinson

Lori Saroya

Susan Smith, CSJ

Soroptomist International

St. Catherine University Fall 2011 The Reflective Woman Class (Professor Nicole Montana)

St. Catherine University Activities Team

Mary Sutherland

Heather Tracey

Trader Joe’s

University of St. Thomas Luann Dummer Center for Women Yarn Tamers

Meg Wilkes Karraker

Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality

Betty Zehringer

$750

Monthly cost for housing one woman at Sarah’s

Foundation Grants 7.4%

CSJ Ministries Foundation

20.3%

Individual Gifts 7.1%

Residence Fees 9.6%

Guests 0.3%

Sisters of St. Joseph of

Carondelet, St. Paul

Province55.4%

Sources of Sarah's Funding

Transportation, $55

Household Supplies, $35

Rent and Maintenance, $405

Utilities, $175

Food, $80

651-696-8699 www.SarahsOasis.org Info@SarahsOasis.org