Our History
The History of Kathy’s House
Named after Kathy Stirling, a resident of Capistrano Beach, a wife, and mother of three girls. A missionary to Romania, Kathy died at age 41. Her love and compassion for needy women inspired Diana Spitz to offer the same support in a structured residential environment.
After partnering with her husband for years in his ministry to men in Victory House and the Lakeland Ranch both founded in 1987, Diana envisioned increased support for women. Kathy Stirling was her inspiration for meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women in crisis. The first Kathy’s House was founded in 1997 in Southern California, ministering to mothers and children. Kathy’s House (KH) then expanded internationally in 2013 to rescue enslaved children overseas where over 5,200 children and families were set free. KH worked with each family to build and maintain a sustainable livelihood in their newfound freedom.
Refocusing their efforts in the U.S., in 2019 Kathy’s House established its next home in California, which would minister to men out of prison, off drugs, and launching them into careers and a new life. In 2020 an additional women’s home was opened including pregnant women. The latest home, Nehemiah House opened in 2023, is a transition home for men graduating from the year-long program, who would like to stay in the area for work and community, supporting one another in their new abundant life of sobriety and faith.
To date, Kathy’s House has successfully reestablished over 800 people in Southern California back into society to lead productive, fulfilling lives.
The Timeline of Kathy’s House
What does the future look like for Kathy’s House?
With limited resources, space, and staff, we are proud of the lives we’ve been able to touch. But we want to reach many more. The need is so great.
We would like to continue to expand our operations here in So Cal by developing our Lakeland property into a state-of-the-art rehab facility for both men and women, housing approximately 100 men and 100 women, with on-site vocational training, education, and spiritual mentorship.
Our goal will be to raise up leaders from within and support from outside partnerships. We would like to increase our thrift store operations which pay for all of our operating costs. We also want to grow geographically across the states where the need is greatest.
With strategic alliances, equipped leadership, and generous partners like you, we can plant 1,000 Kathy’s House Shelter homes across the U.S. and throughout the world. Equipping one life at a time, we can impact a generation of world changers!