By LESLIE COLLINS
Northeast News
November 6, 2013

Every week, someone inquires about Leah’s House.

“We have teenage girls calling the church all the time to see if we’re open and have spots available,” said Carol Boston, facilities manager for Harvest Church International Outreach, 4300 N. Corrington Ave.

For five years, the church has been renovating the former St. Agnes Convent at 134 N. Hardesty Ave. in hopes of opening a group home for pregnant teenagers and their babies.

“It’s part of our outreach mission,” Boston said.

Now that renovations are complete, the vision may finally come to fruition.

During the Oct. 22 meeting of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, the board unanimously voted to approve an extension of the existing conditional use permit to operate the group home. The extension lasts through Oct. 21, 2016, and if Harvest Church fails to launch its group home during that time, the church must submit an application under current zoning codes.

Boston is confident the church will have the group home operational by the start of 2014.

“Everyone is anxious. We’ve been working on it for awhile,” she said.

Initially, Harvest Church will use volunteers to operate the group home and will eventually hire at least six staff to oversee operations. Funding to operate the home will come from Harvest Church. Harvest Church is also working on securing state certification to receive referrals and apply for grants.

The two-story brick building is nestled in the Glennon Place Nursing Home property and sits on approximately 0.64 acres. Up to 13 pregnant teenagers ages 13 to 18 and their babies, upon delivery, will reside in the home. Each teen will have her own furnished bedroom, and teens and their babies will be allowed to stay in the home for up to two years.

“Most teenagers are not ready (for motherhood),” Boston said.

That’s why the church wants to offer the home to teens who may have nowhere else to turn.

In addition to providing housing and meals, Harvest Church will partner will local organizations to offer a variety of classes ranging from parenting skills to career and development to becoming self-sufficient, among others. The Kansas City Public Schools has already agreed to assist with a GED program at the home, Boston said.

“We really want to serve the community,” she said. “We want to serve where there’s a need, and we feel there’s a need with youth having babies and not having anywhere to turn. That’s why so many people have abortions, and we want them to know there’s a better way. And it’s not the end of the world if you have a baby. You can have a baby and still make it.”