Our Mission
Sojourner House is a faith-based residential rehabilitation facility where addicted women learn to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty and chemical abuse while in their own apartment with their children.
We believe women can break the chains of addiction and hopelessness, that they can save their own lives, when surrounded by what means most to them: their children.
At Sojourner House, our house becomes their home. It is . . .
- A place for healing and redemption
- A place for encouragement and forgiveness
- A place that lends space, dignity, and safety while they recover from addiction
Sojourner House History
Sojourner House was named after the great African American preacher Sojourner Truth who spoke up for all women after having successfully fought for her own and her child's deliverance from slavery. An impressive speaker and a woman of strong faith, we believe that Sojourner Truth's victories inspire our mission - to help women overcome the slavery of addiction and to become free.
From one woman's vision of a residential, rehabilitation program for prostitutes was born a plan for Sojourner House. Twenty-six representatives from a cross-section of Pittsburgh social service agencies that try to solve problems that affect women's lives were invited to a one-time "think tank."
Few rehabilitation programs existed for women; and fewer existed for addicted mothers and their children. As the group with the most significant need, the representatives determined that addicted mothers with their children should be the top priority. An apartment house in East Liberty was purchased and renovated.
A program was developed that, in its early years, operated as a half-way house under the parent organization of the East End Cooperative Ministries. In the fall of 1991, the first residents moved into 14 lovely apartments.
As the program evolved, discussion between county authorities and community representatives led to the decision to take the program to the next step. In 1994, in recognition of the emerging complex needs of addicted mothers and their children, the program successfully became a residential rehabilitation center.
Since 1994, Sojourner House has provided love, shelter and support to hundreds of women and children throughout the region.
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