Contact: Kathleen Bagg
(904) 262-1705/office
(904) 434-3909/cell

Gainesville, Fla. – The Gainesville Regional Office of Catholic Charities will not be renewing their one-year agreement to manage Arbor House, a faith-based shelter for homeless pregnant women that was founded in Gainesville in 1983. Catholic Charities management responsibilities will end on March 8, 2013.

Catholic Charities entered into a one-year management agreement with Arbor House in March 2012 with the intent to enhance and improve fiscal and program services. It has become apparent that during the course of this year the private and public dollars to support the ongoing operations of Arbor House do not exist.

Catholic Charities is committed to working with the current residents of Arbor House to locate safe living accommodations and introduce them to other resources to meet their needs related to their unplanned pregnancy.

In addition, Catholic Charities is committed to working with each resident by providing resources to ensure completion of their education this semester.

“Catholic Charities had hoped that with our assistance Arbor House would remain a viable option for young women with unplanned pregnancies,” said John Barli, regional director of the Catholic Charities Gainesville Regional Office.

For further information, please call John Barli at (352) 372-0294 or email
jbarli@catholiccharitiesgainesville.org.