"We're currently housed in about four different locations, with our main offices at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. However, it's going to close next year, and our other rented space will also be unavailable, so we we're going to be homeless," she tells GlobeSt.com.
The 73-year-old church is likely to be shut down by the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Stoner says her organization started a one-year fundraising drive to get a new building, with a goal of $4.5 million. The wish list was fulfilled, and the group is building a 32,000-sf building at West Grand Boulevard and Michigan Avenue, near Vinewood.
However, fundraising wasn't coming close to the amount needed. As of Dec. 27, the group still needed to raise more than $87,000, Stoner says. A hero, in the form of the DaimlerChrysler Corp., saved the day.
The automobile manufacturer, based in Auburn Hills, gave the group $250,000 that day, putting them at more than $4.7 million, well over their target goal. If they hadn't received the cash in time, they would have lost a challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation Troy, Stoner explains.
Construction on the new building began Nov. 13. It will house 45 beds, with counseling and seminar space, and a child-care facility.
"We're shooting to open the building by the end of October 2002," she says.
Stoner says the group runs three separate programs for homeless and at-risk girls, who are subject to violence, pregnancy and exploitation.
"These are the girls that fall through the cracks, that are too young to go into shelters," she says.
Programs include an after-school center, where girls can go instead of joining gangs, Stoner adds.
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