HOHC Teaches Moms To Make Money From Home

"I am super excited," said Michelle Gibbs, program director with House of His Creation (HOHC), as she headed down to the basement of the house at 301 N. Broad St., Lititz. "All of this is new." The new area includes a Cricut Creation Station Gibbs has set up to teach the mothers who live at HOHC how to make personalized items and a boutique for the mothers to shop in.

Gibbs has used the Cricut machines to create T-shirts, mugs, jewelry, and purses with the HOHC logo on them. "Who doesn't love personalized items?" asked Gibbs. "My goal is to help the women learn some entrepreneurship skills because we know that as a single mom, it takes a lot (to support yourself and your baby)," she explained. "You need to be able to generate extra income and still be mom to your children." Gibbs said creating the station has been on her heart for a while. In addition to the Cricut station, Gibbs has stocked the area with arts and crafts items. "Some of the women like to draw or sew," she noted. "We want to be able to offer them something they can do to make some extra money during those first months (when) you want to be there with your child."

Adjacent to the Cricut station is the small boutique. "(Women at HOHC) can earn points to purchase things for their children and themselves," said Gibbs. Points can be earned by attending certain classes, preparing a meal, or cleaning office space. Gibbs has lined the shelves of the boutique with baby items such as diapers, wipes, shampoo, baby clothes, and stuffed animals. A few larger items, including strollers, playpens, and a highchair, are also available. Other items in the boutique include backpacks, school supplies, and journals, and Gibbs has stocked pots, pans, and cookbooks for program graduates who are ready to leave HOHC.

Changes at HOHC, which provides housing and other support to pregnant women age 18 and over, have been occurring in the last several months. Matthew Neff, director of HOHC, and his wife, Callie, program director with HOHC South, recently relocated to Florida, where they opened 685, a refuge for girls who have been rescued from human trafficking.

In Lititz, Gibbs said, the house is prepared to accommodate up to four women at a time. New house parents Bill and Trish Sclafani are settled on the third floor. "We are excited to open these doors again," said Gibbs, who said that women should primarily be in their first or second trimester of pregnancy and that they may remain at the house for six months after delivery. Gibbs works with a number of outside agencies to bring together all the components a woman needs during her pregnancy and after, including A Woman's Concern and the Nurse-Family Partnership. Gibbs has also instituted the Stepping Up House of His Creation Aftercare program for women who choose to continue to receive services after leaving HOHC.

More information may be found at http://www.hohc.org.