Union Mission and West Construction will swing a sledgehammer on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Don & Kaye Kole Magdalene House to officially begin the transformation and expansion project. The renovation is designed to strengthen safety, stability and healing for women with children experiencing homelessness. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Union Mission’s Magdalene House (1407 E. 41^st St., Savannah, GA 31405).

The project will expand Union Mission’s Emergency Housing Program for women with children by adding two new family bedrooms and renovating all eight family suites with private bathrooms and updated interiors. Once complete, the upgraded facility is expected to serve more than 10 additional mothers and 20–30 additional children each year.

Planned improvements also include two fully equipped kitchens, two laundry rooms, two family-friendly common areas and a dedicated computer lab. Updates will enhance durability and security while creating warm, child-friendly spaces that support connection, learning and healing.

West Construction, a longtime partner of Union Mission, will be providing substantial in-kind labor and resources as an investment in our community and a testament to the importance of Union Mission's impact.

“We’re proud to partner with Union Mission to expand Magdalene House and help create a safer, more welcoming space where mothers and children can heal and rebuild their lives,” said Matt West, President of West Construction Company.

Families experiencing homelessness face unique barriers, including securing living-wage employment, accessing affordable childcare and maintaining safe, stable housing. Union Mission’s Magdalene House provides up to 90 days of housing along with food, case management, transportation, access to childcare and additional support services, including mental health counseling. In 2025, this program served 36 mothers and 69 children, and 98% of families moved into stable housing.

“For mothers, homelessness can mean choosing between childcare and employment,” said Michael Traynor, Union Mission President & CEO. “For children, it can mean disrupted education and instability at a young age. Beyond shelter, families need time, support and a safe place to heal. Union Mission is proud of the strong outcomes achieved through Magdalene House, and this expansion will allow us to make an even bigger difference.”

Union Mission would like to recognize West Construction Company for its leadership and generosity as their in-kind support is helping make this expansion possible. Other major donors include The Kole Family, Chick-Fil-A, The Market at 3 West Ridge, Kiwanis Club of Skidaway Island, the Lesher Family Foundation, the One Hundred Children’s Foundation, the Johanna Anderson Trueblood Foundation, Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, Georgia Power, and Bank of America. Special thanks to the generous in-kind support from Hutson Plumbing, Guerry Lumber, Dumpster Dogs, Dan J. Sheehan Company, Custom Cabinets, CS Hurd Electrical, Coastal Sash and Door, Bonitz, Atlantic Waste Servies, and ABC Maintenance Services.

For more information about the transformation and expansion—including available naming opportunities—contact Mark Toth, Director of Major Gifts and Organizational Strategy, at (248) 770-3933 or [email protected].