Business Name
House of Refuge, Inc

Website:
www.houseofrefuge.org

Promotional Video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqeegxXcYSc

What is your name?
Annette Sellers

Who is the owner/manager?
Kayla Kolar, president and CEO

Time in business:
26 years

What product or service do you offer?    
House of Refuge is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located on 20 acres in Southeast Mesa, Arizona. Our community includes 88 2-bedroom homes that we rent to families experiencing homelessness. By providing a home and comprehensive, wrap-around supportive services, we help these families overcome homelessness, become self-sufficient and move to sustainable housing.

What makes your business different, competitive, or unique?
When we welcome an eligible family to House of Refuge, we provide a home, home furnishings, clothing, food boxes, individualized case management services and employment and education support. All residents have access to services and facilities in our community including the Community Center for after school programming, the Employment & Education Center, the Community Garden and the Donation Center.

What is the nicest thing a customer has ever said about your business?
We have so many success stories and quotes from residents. Sometimes it is just the smallest, most simple things in life - “I slept so good! Then woke up to my kids' voices, good morning mom…that was the best part 💜” Resident

How has your business found value in your membership with the Gilbert Chamber?
We are 100% privately funded and rely on relationships in the surrounding communities to help sustain and support our families. Donors come in the form of individual, corporate, foundations, family legacy or planned giving efforts, tax credit, in-kind donations and more.

What motivates you professionally?
Seeing our families get back on their feet and have a fair shot at life. Our Vision - Every Family Deserves A Home

What do you consider to be your greatest success?
Raising funds with integrity and driving impact.

Who do you look up to or admire?
Mother Teresa - we could all learn from the way she lived her life with compassion and helped the poorest of the poor.

When you're not working, where in Gilbert do you spend your time?
All over the state, we live in a great place!