by Joe Bollig
joe.bollig@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The new Nativity House KC doesn’t have a motto, but Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann probably wouldn’t mind if it borrowed his: Life Will Be Victorious.
It was a sort of a victory when Archbishop Naumann, accompanied by an honor guard of fourth-degree Knights of Columbus, blessed and dedicated the new Nativity House KC in Kansas City, Kansas, on Feb. 5.
Nativity House KC is a nonprofit residential maternity home that serves adult women ages 21 and older who are pregnant and homeless or are on the verge of being homeless because of their pregnancy, said Kelly Werkowitch, Nativity House KC executive director. Its founding in 2014 was led by Barbara Belcher.
Werkowitch is grateful for the archbishop’s support.
“Our mission is in line with the passion Archbishop Naumann has for supporting and uplifting the organizations that support women in the respect life community,” she said.
“The services don’t end at the pregnancy center. It takes more to continue to support women and children. Along with the other organizations the archbishop is engaged with, we fit within that realm of complete support for women.”
Nativity House KC was forced to look for a new home when their former property became unavailable.
“The owner of the house we were renting decided to sell the house, so we were on the hunt for another house,” said Werkowitch.
Through a series of what she calls “God moments,” Nativity House KC learned that a house was available near Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
“I met with Karen Orr, CEO of Providence,” said Werkowitch. “They have a house on their property that the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth were using until April 2020.”
The three-story house, built in 1913, is the original farmhouse for the land that became Providence.
Providence has been enormously supportive of Nativity House KC, according to Werkowitch. The hospital has paid for asbestos removal, radon mitigation, electrical work, painting, carpeting, septic system replacement, tree removal, broken glass replacement and the installation of two new water heaters.
The five-bedroom house was ready for occupancy by the end of January. It can house four mothers and one on-site staff person, who is present 24 hours a day.
“Some women who come to the program have another little one, so we can accommodate toddlers, too,” said Werkowitch. Women and children at Nativity House KC are cared for by paid staff and volunteers.
Women can stay for a year after their baby is delivered.
“We serve the whole woman — mind, body, spirit and soul,” said Werkowitch. “We have different educational programs, prenatal and postnatal education and child care. We have brought on trauma care-informed therapists to meet one-on-one and as a group.
“We offer financial education . . . and we offer transportation to medical appointments and mental health appointments. We work with other providers in women’s health care to coordinate services. We coordinate with other organizations in the community to support women’s educational goals.”
Nativity House KC is also working with Providence to offer pregnancy, labor and delivery, and newborn education. They may also offer job opportunities.
“Our goal is that when women leave our program, they have the tools to be successful,” said Werkowitch. “That they can not only survive — but thrive.”
For information about Nativity House KC or to donate, go online to: nativityhousekc.org.
