By LINDA M. LINONIS

By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Sister Patricia McNicholas, executive director of the Beatitude House, said that the Ursuline Sisters were founded in 1535 "to better the lives of women."
Sister Margaret Scheetz took that to heart in a way that continues to improve the lives of hundreds of women and children.
Sister Margaret, who died in 2001, was motivated after watching a movie, "God Bless the Child." Sister Patricia said Sister Margaret was inspired by the movie and its portrayal of the plight of a homeless mother and daughter.
Sister Margaret had the belief that education was the avenue out of poverty and suggested a program. The Beatitude House, a not-for-profit nondenominational corporation of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, was established in 1988.
The Ursuline Sisters received a Tudor house on Fifth Avenue from an anonymous donor and they turned it into apartments. Four families moved in during summer 1991. Two other apartment complexes have expanded the program to eight families.
In February 2000, the Ursuline Sisters collaborated with Trumbull County Housing Collaborative and established a Beatitude House program in Warren, where seven families are housed.
Beatitude House also received a federal grant to add permanent supportive housing to its program. The program subsidizes rent and utility payments for up to 12 women or families with disabilities.
Sister Patricia and Teresa Boyce, development director, said there is no one profile describing the women who come to Beatitude House.
"She might be about 23, with two children and a high school diploma," Sister Patricia said, but she has no adult education background. "And there may be some kind of domestic violence in her life."
"Most have no support system. ... They don't have a relationship with their families or don't have a good one," Boyce said.
They are living from check to check. Situations like a loss of a job, illness or divorce can drastically change their lives and circumstances because they have no place to turn.
But they can turn to Beatitude House.
"This is a way to make their lives better. But it's not an easy thing to do," Sister Patricia said.
"The women may come from the Rescue Mission, Sojourner House [a domestic violence shelter], a family or friend's house," Boyce said.
The process, requirements
Women must fill out an application, go through an interview and be accepted. Then they must agree to and meet expectations and requirements of the program.
"In the interview, we want to see if they really want to make changes and prepare for a new life," Sister Patricia said. "They must be drug free," she added.
To be accepted into the two-year transitional housing program, a woman must be homeless and have custody of at least one child, age 13 or younger.
The Beatitude House annual report for 2004-05 notes that about 50 percent of the children served were age 5 or younger, and 85 homeless children were in the program. The woman must agree to attend a full-time education or career preparation program and participate in counseling and parenting programs.
In essence, Beatitude House and its staff become the families and support system for the women.
Sister Margaret's vision of focusing on education is taken seriously. "Women attend an educational program ... a full day ... from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.," Boyce said.
The Potter's Wheel, which targets education and career preparation, was established by Sister Patricia in 1996. Women may work to obtain a General Educational Development diploma to finish a high school education or participate in Youngstown City Schools' ABLE (Adult Basic Literacy Education) program.
"Many have to brush up on English skills," Sister Patricia said.
Others who have a high school diploma are ready to attend a vocational school or college. Many decide to pursue careers in social work or health care, almost as a way of giving back to help others, Sister Patricia said.
Education is funded through grants, loans and scholarships. "We have a small education fund for books," Boyce said.
Sampling of successes
Program graduates have gone on to become college instructors, computer technicians, nurses, librarians and even a diesel mechanic.
The women are full-time students and some work part time or are in work-study programs. Their duties as mothers continue and their parenting skills are improved through classes and counseling. A child advocate also is on staff.
Practical aspects also are addressed. Women may get a driver's license, get a car, open a savings account, land a job and develop a budget. An after-care program continues to serve women when they complete the program.
How it's funded
Boyce said the Beatitude House budget is a little more than $1 million a year. In the Beatitude House annual report, 37 percent of funds come from federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, three grants from Ohio and funds from the cities of Youngstown and Warren.
Sources of remaining funds are foundations, 28 percent; general donations, 14 percent; fund-raisers, 11 percent; and others, 5 percent. Money to complete the budget, 5 percent, comes from what is called "partners in ministry," which are donations from all denominations. These groups also provide household supplies and Christmas gifts.
Sister Patricia said Beatitude House takes a holistic approach in its work to help women and children. "The Ursuline Sisters community see it as a mission," she said. "The government is open to faith-based programs. But we don't require any religious affiliation of staff or participants."
Most of the Beatitude House participants have a religious affiliation, Sister Patricia said, and some are active. But, she noted, staff members don't initiate conversations on religion but respond if participants want to pursue that dialogue.
As for herself, Sister Patricia said this is what she "was called to do." She was working on a doctor of ministry degree at United Theological Seminary in Dayton and her focus was "how to involve the laity in working with the poor."
That area of interest was a good fit with the Beatitude House mission. "I felt the calling, and it was confirmed by the board of directors," Sister Patricia said. "In my own prayers, I look at the needs in the world and try to explore what is God's will."
linonis@vindy.com