A New Chapter for Welcome Home Collaborative

We are excited to welcome Monica Wrentz as the new Executive Director at Welcome Home Collaborative (WHC)! Monica brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to empowering individuals and families on their journey to stability and self-sufficiency.

Monica's Experience as Execute Director

In this role, Monica will focus on:

• Leading and managing the WHC staff

• Developing a funding plan to sustain operations and capital programs

• Fostering relationships with organizations that serve WHC participants

• Working with the board to set and improve measurable goals

Her dedication to those experiencing homelessness and experience with affordable housing and mental health support services, combined with her compassionate spirit, align perfectly with our vision of transformative change.

Monica’s Vision and Experience

Monica expressed her excitement about the new role, saying she was honored to have worked closely with Pastor John as Program Coordinator for The Bridge Ministry and as a Life Coach for WHC’s Victoria’s House of Hope. She shared,

"My background includes providing housing and supportive services to individuals with mental health and substance use disorders while helping them build resilience to thrive independently once they graduate from our program. It is truly an honor and privilege to accept the position of Executive Director at Welcome Home Collaborative. I am both humbled and excited by the opportunity to lead this dedicated and passionate team, and committed to supporting the organization’s mission and advancing its goals."

"I look forward to working closely with our talented life coaches, board members, and community partners to bring about transformative change for those we serve. Together, we will continue to support and empower each participant on their journey to thrive independently."

Monica Wrentz

"I am grateful for the trust placed in me and excited to work alongside the team. As we work together to maintain and grow WHC's strong foundation, may it reflect Pastor John's compassion and commitment."

Join us in Welcoming Monica!

We are thrilled to have Monica as part of the WHC family and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our mission. Please join us in welcoming her and supporting her leadership as we continue the work of serving our community.

Continuing the Mission

Honoring Pastor John Suguitan’s Legacy Through Ministry and Service

In case you hadn't heard, we lost our beloved Executive Director, Pastor John Suguitan, on July 29, 2024. He battled cancer, and his second bone marrow transplant surgery appeared to be going well, until it wasn't.  

Pastor John

He was known as the Jesus of Over the Rhine. I described him as the Pied Pieper of OTR and was humbled on several occasions when I was walking with him and the throngs of men and women would be yelling, "Hey Pastor John!.." He knew most by name but admitted that he didn't know plenty as well.  Such is the case for someone who is loved by a community - a community where many are either homeless or transitioning between unsettled living arrangements. He was well known because he was active and present. As importantly, as much as he spoke of his faith, he actively practiced it.

Welcome Home Collaborative (WHC) was going to celebrate our 3rd Annual Fundraising dinner on October 25, 2024. Pastor John's passing put a hole in our heart that we're still reeling from. However, we must continue this ministry and it's a wonderful way to honor his legacy.

As a reminder, WHC provides affordable housing for those who have been experiencing homelessness. It's a faith based program where Life Coaches meet weekly to create Life Plans using Motivational Interviewing techniques to help drive our participants to improve while being accountable.

Every year there are participant highlights whereby some graduate from our program and/or celebrate the purchase of a car, work anniversaries, financial success, family forgiveness or other important life skills. 

To sustain WHC and Pastor John's legacy in taking on and leading this ministry, we need your help - prayer, volunteering and financially. We are grateful for your support in the past and hopeful that you will continue or consider a one-time or continued contributions.  For financial, you can donate here.

Thank you from WHC's heart.

T Kuramoto 

WHC Board

Board Members

• Sara Bruns

• Nicole Dowdell

• Jeff Friday

• Rob Joy

• Nancy Sones

• Alicia Suguitan

Volunteers

• Steve Hatke 

• Dennis Kirley

• Bob Littman (consultant)

• Hank Stephens

• Ashley Valentine​

Pastor John speaks about the cold shelter on the local news

Junk King to the Rescue...and, other Special Volunteers or Organizations

Keeping older residences (Most WHC residences are in the heart of Over the Rhine and were built circa 1880... yes, over 140 years ago) maintained is a constant battle. It keeps our inspector and office manager (thanks Dennis & Steve) busy to say the least.

Unfortunately, we occasionally are recipients of trash. Nice. Can you imagine that some people think it's just fine to leave old, used tires on one of our properties. To make it worse, how about leaving them leaning on a residence where a beautiful mural was dedicated in honor of a wonderful young woman who died way too early and volunteered to help feed and serve those experiencing homelessness. This residence is called, "Victoria's (Victoria Stolz) House of Hope."

WHC tries to be resourceful and exercise stewardship with our residences and financial gifts. As such, the idea of paying organizations to resolve trash removal led to a call to Junk King. After asking us about the WHC ministry, they offered to dispose of these tires for free!  Junk King to the Rescue...

And, it helps that we have many other individuals and organizations that provide free or discounted services... Special Mention Thanks as well to:

• We have volunteers who have helped build dozens of Habitat for Humanity homes or renovations (thanks Paul, Dave, big Mike, Preston, John and others...) on call to add porches, flooring, new rooms, framing, drywall, painting, electrical... you get the idea... most anything...

• Or, Dupont Plumbing who has helped unclog, restore and renovate extremely old drainage systems.... remember, most of our homes were built over 140 years ago... we need reliable, honest and quick responding teams stuff goes to @#^&... See: Home - DuPont Plumbing Inc.

As a reminder, WHC owns five residences that house 15-20 participants (we have space for families so the total number above can vary). Each residence can have three to six participants. We also have a sixth residence to be renovated.