INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A devastating fire didn’t stop an Independence, Missouri, homeless shelter from helping young pregnant women and their newborn babies. Mother’s Refuge is going strong seven years after a fire destroyed its shelter on Oct. 9, 2012.
It took two years to rebuild the shelter, but the new building is larger. It includes an extra bedroom, made other bedrooms larger, added space to the kitchen, a new computer lab, and a finished basement.
The organization’s executive director said there was never a doubt about rebuilding.
“I remember pulling up and looking at the fire and all the firemen that were putting it out,” said Angel McDonald. “One of our girls said, 'Well, it looks like I’m homeless again.' We just, we were like no, we'll make sure that doesn't happen.”
Besides upgrading the building, the shelter also expanded its educational and counseling programs since the fire.
Mother’s Refuge gives homeless girls from the ages of 12 to 21 who are pregnant a free place to stay before they give birth and for one year after their child is born.
