Simone Hennessee, Executive Director of Providence House, has announced she will retire in “the early part of 2016.”
“It has been my privilege and honor to lead this mission and ministry to serve homeless families with children,” Hennessee said in a statement.
The Bossier Press-Tribune spoke with Hennessee in December 2014 to celebrate the non-profit’s 25 years of service to the Shreveport-Bossier community.
Hennesee’s journey with Providence House began in 1992 with 25 families, three employees, no program and $115,000. Providence House has since grown to be the largest residential development center for homeless families in the state of Louisiana with the only child development center in the state for homeless children.
Hennessee told the BPT that in her two decades of work, Providence House has served “more than 15,000 people, over 4,300 families and close to 10,000 children.”
Her statement also quoted Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
Hennessee said, “Providence House has never been a job for me but a sense of call, a part of who I am as a human being and a way to work out my faith in real and tangible ways. I believe that God called me to this time and place to do this work. It has been Providential and a blessing.
“This call has not changed for me, but my role will change from leader to community supporter and cheerleader, and I will look with pride upon the strides Providence House will make under new leadership.
“I especially give thanks to the Shreveport/Bossier community and the many generous donors who have sustained our mission and ministry creating what we know today to be Providence House. And the ministry shall continue because of you. Thanks be to God!!”
