Bursting Pipes Causing Great Damage To Our Home

Gianna House Foundation was conceived in 2009 after being transitioned from the covenant of St. Veronica Church. Since then, hundreds of young pregnant, at-risk girls and women have received support for their pregnancies and their infants. Gianna House Pregnancy and Parenting Residence provides shelter for young women who are pregnant or have a baby under 1 year old. Currently, there are 3 mothers and 3 babies who are living in our home.

Gianna House also touches the lives of hundreds of low-income families offering supplies, baby needs and education opportunities by way of our Community Outreach Program.

In the early morning of December 26, the day after Christmas, it was approximately 16 degrees outside. Due to the bitter cold, the PVC fire prevention pipes burst in the third floor of our historic building. The very old facility boiler is expected to be the cause; we have been having complications with our HVAC system and have been working on the update. The heat was unable to successfully reach the third floor adequately to keep the water within the sprinkler system pipes fluid. Consequently, the pipes burst. The water literally poured down, like a waterfall on the walls and caused flooding the floors; traveling down to the basement. The flooding affected all four floors which resulted in the damage of bathrooms, offices, kitchen and the communal living spaces. Not only were rooms and furniture damaged, most of our donations are housed in the basement because we use it for storage and our “baby buck” store for the families of our programs. Our inventory includes items such as diapers, baby formula, wipes, clothing, baby furniture, car seats and strollers.

Thankfully, Gianna House’s Executive Director, Joella Bush was notified via fire alarms advising of the flooding at 4:00 am while everyone was asleep, except staff. Eastpointe Fire Department came to our rescue. Although the residential moms and their babies were frightened, they are all ultimately safe and sound.

Help is needed now.

Please support the regrowth and rebuilding of Gianna House!