The Rev. Randy Howard, pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Bowling Green, speaks with volunteers and guests during the St. Gianna Crisis Pregnancy Home’s open house on Sunday.

Three years after plans were first formulated, a long-term crisis pregnancy support center is on the verge of opening.

An open house took place Sunday afternoon at St. Gianna Crisis Pregnancy Home, a newly renovated house on the grounds of Holy Spirit Catholic Church that is anticipated to begin accepting residents late next month.

Members of Holy Spirit and St. Joseph Catholic Church worked to bring the home to fruition, overseeing an expansion to the upstairs bedrooms, construction of a communal dining room and class space and the building of a deck to create a welcoming environment for up to six pregnant women who will need access to resources to aid in parenting.

“We knew from some of the local agencies that there was a need in Bowling Green. There were homeless women sleeping in cars and couch-surfing, so we started to investigate other homes in other cities and we decided, if they can do it, we can do it,” said Katharyn Byrne, one of the home’s directors.

In the past six months, 13 women have contacted St. Gianna inquiring about a stable place to live and have had to be referred to other resources, said co-director Missy Monroe, illustrating the need for a place where pregnant women with no means of support can learn life skills to raise their children and achieve independence.

The building was damaged in December after a tree fell onto the roof during a storm, which also destroyed the shed and garage, but an insurance payout helped fund repairs, leading to increased living and storage space.

Residents will be assigned a mentor who will help them formulate post-pregnancy life and career goals and prepare them to raise their newborns.

Additional volunteers have offered to come to the home to teach classes in budgeting, cooking, job interviewing and other skills, Byrne said.

Two house mothers will be brought on board to supervise the house during day and night hours and help residents register for subsidized housing and other resources, but the residents will be expected to be active participants in the home’s daily responsibilities along with either going to school or maintaining outside employment.

“We have so many volunteers who want to come here to teach budgeting, nutrition, theology of the body, parenting and child care, sewing, crocheting, knitting – we have all kinds of people wanting to come here and sit with these girls and teach general life skills,” Monroe said.

Residents are able to stay at the home for up to eight months after having their baby. Those who place their baby up for adoption can stay for up to six weeks after delivery as long as they continue to abide by the rules of the home.

House directors say that the community has been generous in its support thus far.

With yearly expenses estimated at $180,000 for employees, transportation and supplies, the people behind St. Gianna hope that support continues.

“The Bowling Green community has given us everything we’ve needed. It’s been amazing,” Byrne said. “I think this is a cause that touches the heart of a lot of people … . We’ve given them the opportunity to contribute to taking a woman who has chosen life for her child but can’t afford a decent place to live and giving them a chance to do what they’re being called to do.”