FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A shelter that has opened its doors to unhoused women for the past five years will continue to do so under a new name designed to reaffirm its mission.
St. Joseph Missions announced Thursday it is rebranding as Josephine’s Place Women’s Shelter. It’s an around-the-clock facility at 3505 Lake Avenue that aids single women experiencing homelessness. The shelter goes further than providing a bed overnight, also offering resources to support the women with a plan for stability moving forward.
St. Joseph Missions set to rebrand, reflects growing trend
The change in name was decided upon when leaders realized St. Joseph Missions didn’t fully reflect the scope of its services. According to a press release, the original name often masked the true nature of the organization’s work, causing donors, partners, and individuals in need to misunderstand its service model and demographic.
Josephine’s Place serves as a warm, accessible beacon for single women of all backgrounds seeking shelter from the storm, as described in the release. During the transition, leaders of the organization say they’ll be looking at whether the rebranding accomplishes its goal of decreasing confusion and opening its doors to more women.
According to the website, the shelter has served more than 500 women since first opening in 2021.
With the new name comes a new logo in the form of a green flower. Thursday’s announcement was accompanied by an open house at the facility on the city’s east side…