The Refuge

Thanks to a planning grant from the Center for Congregations, funded by the Lily Endowment and generous gift from Grace Covenant Church in Austin, we are in the process of building a facility in Austin, Indiana. The Refuge Home for Children will be a place of warmth, Christian love and comfort to meet the needs of children needing a temporary home. The Refuge is a non-profit organization governed by a community board. The community board for The Refuge will provide guidance, direction and financial oversight.

Many times, children have to be removed from their homes while their parents work to gain and maintain a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Being removed from the home is an incredibly traumatic experience for every child. The trauma is compounded when a local placement can’t be found and the child has to be placed outside his or her community. The separation severs important bonds the child has formed with school personnel, friends or relatives.

The Refuge was formed to give hope to these children and their families by providing immediate trauma-informed care for displaced children. The Long-term plans include Foster Care placement, Foster Parent care and support, youth and family enrichment services and family reunification support. Floor plans have been prepared and approved. The Indiana state licensure and contract application has been initiated. Our goal is to begin serving children in 2020. They need your financial support to build The Refuge.