Our Story
Founded in 2006, The Well House was created to meet a growing need in our community—a safe, Christ-centered home where women could begin again. What started as a ministry to support women leaving incarceration grew into a broader mission of serving women experiencing homelessness, crisis, and life transitions.
Recognizing the importance of stability and accessibility, The Well House purchased its permanent home at 701 Broadway in 2011. Located near public transportation, employment opportunities, health care, and community services, the home allows residents to focus on rebuilding their lives while staying connected to the resources they need for success.
Today, The Well House continues to provide more than temporary housing. We offer a nurturing environment where women experience encouragement, accountability, practical life skills, spiritual growth, and the opportunity to rediscover their purpose.
We believe that while circumstances may bring someone to our door, hope is what leads them forward.
“…but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:14
Our Program
More Than a Place to Stay
The Well House provides a structured, supportive environment where women can focus on healing and preparing for independent living.
Residents receive support through:
Safe Housing
A secure, welcoming place to live while rebuilding stability.
Life Skills
Budgeting, cooking, household management, employment readiness, goal setting, and healthy relationships.
Spiritual Growth
Bible studies, prayer, mentoring, and opportunities to deepen faith.
Community Connections
Access to local agencies, employment resources, health care, counseling, and educational opportunities.
Accountability
Personalized goals and encouragement that help each resident move toward independence.
IMPACT
Every Life Changed Creates a Stronger Community
The Well House exists because transformation is possible.
Every woman who finds healing, employment, stable housing, and renewed hope strengthens not only her own future but also the community around her.
“When one woman succeeds, generations are impacted.”
Phase 2: Independent Living Apartments
Phase 2 is the next step in The Well House restoration journey, providing women with the opportunity to transition from structured residential living into a more independent environment while continuing to receive support and accountability.
Our Phase 2 Home consists of four apartment units. Three apartments are designed for single women, while the fourth is reserved for a mother with one or two children. In many cases, the children are currently in the care of a family member or are wards of the state. During this phase, the goal is family reunification, helping mothers establish the stability and foundation needed to welcome their children home.
While living in a Phase 2 apartment, residents continue to strengthen their relationship with Christ while working toward personal, educational, vocational, and financial goals that prepare them for long-term independence. Women are encouraged to build healthy support systems and are paired with or connected to a Christian mentor who provides encouragement, accountability, and spiritual guidance throughout their journey.
Placement into a Phase 2 apartment is not automatic. Women must complete an application process and demonstrate readiness for this level of independent living. Residents may remain in Phase 2 for approximately 18 to 24 months, allowing them the time needed to establish lasting stability before successfully transitioning into permanent housing.
Meet Our Executive Director
Patricia A. Tyler
Executive Director
Patricia A. Tyler has dedicated her life to helping women discover hope, healing, and restoration through the love of Jesus Christ. As Executive Director of The Well House, she leads with compassion, wisdom, and unwavering faith, believing that every woman deserves the opportunity to experience healing, purpose, and a fresh beginning.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Patricia’s life took a dramatic turn when she made the courageous decision to leave an abusive marriage. Seeking safety and a new beginning, she relocated to Bloomington, Illinois, where God began writing a new chapter in her life. It was there that she met and married her husband, Mark Tyler. Together they have shared 26 years of marriage and are the proud parents of two daughters, Staretta Jenkins and Moriah Tyler, and grandparents to two cherished grandchildren, Sabriyah and Malakhi.
Patricia’s passion for serving others was born not only through ministry but also through her own journey of overcoming adversity. As a young adult, she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease that affected her voluntary muscles, making it difficult to walk, talk, swallow, chew, and even breathe. During one of the most challenging seasons of her life, she clung to the promise of Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Standing firmly on God’s Word and faithfully confessing His promises, Patricia experienced God’s miraculous healing in 1995. Throughout that journey, Romans 8:28 became an anchor for her faith: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
These life experiences gave Patricia a deep understanding of what it means to overcome fear, brokenness, and uncertainty. They also instilled in her an enduring compassion for women facing difficult circumstances and a steadfast belief that God can redeem every story.
Patricia’s calling to ministry continued during her 18 years of service at Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington, Illinois. She faithfully served in a variety of leadership roles, including Receptionist, Case Aide, Shift Coordinator, Lead Case Manager, and Interim Chief Executive Officer. She worked with individuals and families experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse, incarceration, and other life challenges. These experiences strengthened her conviction that lasting restoration is possible through faith, compassionate relationships, accountability, and practical support.
In 2016, God called Patricia and her family to Quincy, Illinois, where He opened the door to a new season of ministry. In August of that year, she joined The Well House as Resident Support Staff and quickly became affectionately known as “Ms. Pat.” Through her servant leadership, steadfast faith, and unwavering dedication, Patricia was promoted to Executive Director. Today, she continues to lead The Well House with vision, integrity, and a heart for helping women discover healing, hope, and the abundant life God has prepared for them.
Patricia believes every woman’s story has value and that no life is beyond God’s redeeming love. Her own journey is a testament to God’s faithfulness and serves as a daily reminder that with Christ, restoration is always possible.
Outside of ministry, Patricia enjoys reading, spending time with her family, attending church, traveling, going to concerts, and taking cruises.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28