About Clare of Assisi House - Transitional Residential Living Pennsylvania

Clare of Assisi House, located in Reading, PA, provides transitional residential living in Berks County to non-violent women with a history of domestic violence and/or substance abuse upon their release from prison. Founder, Robin Ball, was concerned by the prison recidivism rate – a revolving door of incarceration and relapse. Robin recognized women had nowhere safe to go upon their release or had to return to the environment that sent them to prison. Clare House was established to give women help with the challenging obstacles of rebuilding their lives.

Click to Read More

Clare of Assisi House holds the belief that everyone should be treated with dignity, therefore, we believe in each person’s right to be afforded respect regardless of one’s status in life, sexual orientation, race, religious affiliation, national origin, economic state, disability, culture, or personal customs.
Because we value the potential of each individual, we encourage our residents to go beyond perceived personal limitations and to develop one’s own unique abilities. We do that by assisting our residents in seeing viable possibilities for their future, helping them in all stages of their personal growth and being supportive of the steps taken that can transform each resident into a responsible citizen.

Pam Mills

Executive Director

Pam Mills, Clare of Assisi House’s current Executive Director, came to Clare House in October 2017 as Clare House’s First Resident. By December 2017 she was hired by Clare House to fill the role as a part-time Administrative Assistant. Pam brought to Clare House over 30 years of Executive level administrative skills. She also began a five-month Grant Writing/Fundraising internship, which she successfully completed and was awarded her first grant in the Spring of 2018. Her role continued to increase to full time Administrative Assistant. Upon her graduation as the first graduate of Clare House from the Resident Program in December of 2018, she was promoted to Assistant House Manager/Administrative Assistant. Her dedication and commitment to Clare House and its residents did not go unnoticed. Upon the retirement of the Executive Director, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to offer the position to Pam.

Pam was born and raised in the City of Reading. She is a graduate of Reading Senior High, graduating in the top 15% of her class and Reading Muhlenberg Vo-tech graduating top in her class for Computers. She is a mother of two beautiful daughters. She loves to read, travel and antique shop.

She had excelled in the corporate world, taking various computer and accounting classes over the years. Her strong points are being detailed oriented, organized, self-motivate, hard-working and dependable. She has utilized these skills in various organizations over the years, both professionally and as a volunteer.

Her desire to work in a field or organization where she can make a difference in lives of others is apparent every day here at Clare House. She has found her calling in life and is enjoying every minute.

Sister M. Eileen Doherty, OSF

Assistant Director

Sister M. Eileen Doherty, is a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia and has been a Religious Visitor to the Berks County Jail for three years providing one-on- one spiritual direction and communion. Sr. Eileen earned a B.S. from Neumann University, and a M.A. in Educational Administration from Villanova University. She taught in elementary school for 13 years and was a principal for 16 years. As a principal she formed and worked with school boards, recruited, and trained faculty. Sr. Eileen has a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Penn Relationship Council of Philadelphia, and maintains a membership in National Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Sister has been an Ombudsman and a foster parent for 13 years. Presently, Sr. Eileen is a member of La Salle School Board, Senior Citizens Advisory Board of the Sisters of St Francis, a Mobile Therapist for Concern 4Kids., and Assistant Director of Clare of Assisi House. The Assistant Director is responsible for the performance of those duties that provide safety and security to the residents. She will work in conjunction with the social work staff to organize treatment goals focusing on clients’ medical, social, vocational, educational, and therapeutic needs. The Assistant Director is a key member of Clare of Assisi House leadership team and will be working collaboratively with the Director, Program Director, Development, Staff, and volunteers.

The Assistant Director is responsible for overseeing program and operations management; administration; human resources; and assists in the evaluation of new and existing programs for appropriateness and in order to assess the need for change and improvement.