Pocatello pastor still seeking help to create home for homeless

Despite not being able to foot the $225,000 bill in time to buy a building she planned to turn into Big Momma’s House — Praise Temple of God pastor Jacqualine Thomas is still aiming to create the new-kind of home for the homeless.

As we reported in September, Thomas got the idea of creating another homeless shelter for the community when the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office asked for her help with a homeless woman. When the woman didn’t want to go to Aid for Friends — the one homeless shelter in town — she was made aware of the need for more.

Big Momma’s House is intended to be more than just a shelter. Besides housing, she plans to provide educational and job-seeking opportunities, as well as provide mental, spiritual and emotional support and therapy. She even plans to provide substance abuse and domestic violence counseling and transportation services.

Thomas stresses the home will take a ‘hand up’ approach, not a ‘hand out’ one.

“It will give the residents who will be living there the opportunity to be taught new life skills,” she said.

The realtor of the building told Thomas the building could be secured if a 30 percent down payment is put down. She is still in need of donations to be able to do that.

You can donate by going to any Wells Fargo location in the area and mention the Big Momma’s House account. You can also donate via PayPal here.