Immaculata Home a place to grow

Apr. 20—Immaculata Home is a two-story house in a quiet neighborhood at 31 Lewis St. where homeless women and women in recovery can live for up to two years. It is not subsidized housing, but it does operate on grant funding as well as the small amount of rent that each resident must pay to stay there.

Lockport CARES executive director Ben Stuckey praises Immaculata, saying it is a place to which the emergency shelter has been able to link individuals after their stay at his facility.

"We find Immaculata Home to be a great option for some of our guests," he said.

More than a shelter, Immaculata Home is geared toward women who need a "spiritual home."

Founder Christine Kesterson is a former prison chaplain who watched countless women leave after completing their sentence and end up coming back.

That inspired her to establish a home where women could grow into productive lives and avoid falling back into the traps that led to their incarceration.

"We use spirituality as a guiding compass to stabilize lives," Kesterson said.

Residents of Immaculata are required to take part in the programming that the house provides. This includes morning prayer, conflict resolution — learning when to listen and not speak, a type of soft skill, according to Kesterson — and a 12-step program for addiction. Drugs aren't the only addiction, Kesterson said; some involve shopping, gambling or sex. The house program lasts for six months at which time women may choose to reside there for an additional 18 months.

Community service also is required. Residents must work three hours a week at, for example, the local Salvation Army, soup kitchen, clothes closet or food pantry.

Another essential piece of the Immaculata experience is learning how to create nutritious meals for the house, as well as any family, who are invited to dinner at Immaculata once a month.

Gardening is another skill that the residents are taught, Kesterson said.

Outside supports are also considered important and women are encouraged to be active in the community and find a network of people they can trust. Kesterson gives the example of a church, mosque or temple of whatever faith they feel drawn to.

"We don't proselytize. We don't push our religion (Christianity)," she said.

The price to reside at Immaculata is $400 per month, and Kesterson said the bill can be paid in many ways. Sometimes residents qualify for government and private grants. Many pay their way, or a family member supports them.

"Our monthly fee for all this support is remarkably only $400 per month because of generous donors who share in our service to our clients," Kesterson said.