About UsTeresa Shelter
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Phone: (563) 690-0086
Teresa Shelter provides a safe place for all women and children who find themselves homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. Some women may have been evicted and/or struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues.
The shelter is open all day and night, except for a short period over the lunch and dinner hours. At this time guests can access the free meal sites that are available nearby.
The shelter program includes assistance, food, referrals and advocacy with community services. Admission to the shelter is based on the availability of space and interview by staff. Women must be 18 and older; at this time, boys over the age of 12 are unable to stay at the shelter.
As the only emergency shelter for women and children in the greater tri-state area, the shelter often operates at capacity. Each individual who enters shelter has her own set of specific goals and objectives for herself and her children. Upon arriving at the shelter, assessments are conducted for each woman and child to determine the specific needs to focus on while in the shelter. The shelter's staff then works with each woman and child to meet those goals and objectives. If a woman is meeting goals and working for her future, she may be offered a room in the semi - transitional portion of Teresa Shelter. In semi-transitional housing the goal setting is more long term and difficult to achieve, the guests are allowed to stay for up to two years, or move to Maria House when ready. The primary goal is to help each woman find permanent housing.
The length of a woman's stay can be 21 days in emergency housing and two years in semi-transitional. However, some women may only stay a day or two, while others may stay the full two years. Some women can get extensions to stay longer if a move to permanent housing is imminent or they may move to Maria House to continue to work on their goals.
Shelter services:
- Emergency shelter and Semi-Transitional Housing
- Breakfasts and snacks
- Advocacy and support
- Referrals to supportive services
- Employment leads
- Housing resources
- Showers and laundry facilities
- Morning and evening meetings (focus on goal setting and shelter issues)
- Private Rooms for semi-transitional guests