ECHO Housing will operate The House of Bread and Peace

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — ECHO Housing and Community Development will now operate The House of Bread and Peace in Evansville. For decades, the home has stood to offer shelter to homeless women and children in the area.

ECHO says that’s not going to change under its leadership.

Under the merger, ECHO will be the one providing services like shelter and hot meals to homeless women and children. We’re told the merger is done to continue operating as Sister Joanna Trainer envisioned the home — to care for women and children in our area and ensuring they get out of homelessness.

“We want to ensure the integrity and integrity of the home, the mission, the purpose, Sister Joanna, all the donors and community members that have supported it over the decades,” ECHO Housing CEO Savannah Wood says. “We want to make sire that we maintain that integrity and we continue supporting the house as best as possible.”

ECHO Social Services Director Sarah Wolf was once the home’s executive director. She believes the initiative is good to connect women with permanent housing solutions.

“I see this as an amazing opportunity to make sure that the house continues Sister Joanna’s mission continues and has the support and infrastructure that will really help the house and the clients that are served,” Wolf says.

Between 23 and 26 people are inside the home at any given time. The staff cannot help single women and their children find housing solutions alone.

“The house has always survived on the kindness of others and the thoughtfulness of others, and that hopefully will continue,” Wolf says. “Any donations of time or money — those kinds of things. Even under the merger with ECHO, that all stays with The House of Bread and Peace and designated for The House of Bread and Peace.”

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