The Birth of Bogan Quarters


About Bobbie Gradford-Bogan: Born 1949 in Kosciusko, MS, (the same small town as Oprah Winfrey) the youngest of three daughters. Raised, schooled (grade school through Chicago Loop City College) and worked in Chicago all my life. Married with two adult biological children and two step children How I came to be called to this ministry: I am a Christian Believer with a passion for helping others. Since childhood I was brought up to believe that we should always help those in need. When I was very young and on occasions when I would be fortunate enough to receive some change from my parents, I would often times wait to see a homeless person walking down the street. When I saw someone in need coming my way I would run out and place coins in their path then hide so they would find them and think they had found pennies from heaven. As a child, I ran from them, now with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I run to them. It has taken me fifty-six years to be obedient to God’s calling and His plan and purpose for my life and I’m grateful that I didn’t miss it entirely. My hair has grayed and my steps have gotten slower, but my faith has gotten stronger and my mission larger than I could have ever expected. I thank God daily that he has prepared me for this mighty work. The genesis of The Bogan Quarters: Approximately 5 years ago, my husband and I had to move out of our apartment because the building was being sold. We had been searching for a long time and had found nothing that we were pleased with. While out on the search one more time, The Holy Spirit led us to one particular home. If I didn’t know better, I probably would say we had stumbled upon our home accidentally, but we soon came to believe it had been divine intervention leading us there. Unfortunately, the owner/contractor told us this house was already sold and began showing us other homes. I did not like any of them although she told us she would renovate to suit us. I asked if I could see the home that was already sold just to give me some ideas on what I should be looking for. She declined our request because she did not like to show newly renovated properties when they were under contract. I persisted, insisted, whined and whined until she finally gave in and said I could take a peak inside. Little did she or I know that opening that door would also initiate the door opening on a new personal ministry and a house of love, hope and refuge for many others in need. As I peaked inside the door, I felt compelled to step inside, and as my feet crossed the threshold, I claimed the house in the name of Jesus to be mine. She began to shake her head and say, “Oh no honey, you don’t understand, this house is already sold”. I replied, “No honey, you don’t understand, in the name of Jesus, this is my house.” We took ownership and moved in about thirty days later and the rest is history. And so it became that even though we were both in our fifties, we had finally purchased our very first home. What the owner did not know was I had already asked God for this house before I had ever seen it. I had asked for a house large enough to have room for my children and grandchildren if they ever needed a place to come home to and for anyone who was homeless and needed a place to lay their head. Whoever said “You better be careful what you ask God for, because you just might get it” was so right because after being in the house only 2 weeks, the first knock on the door came. It was a family needing a place to stay and we were able to accommodate them. After they were back on their feet and had moved out, and a mere three weeks later, the next knock came at the door...another family homeless and needing a place to stay. After about a year, they too were able to get back on their feet and secure a place of their own. Since then, our home has been a revolving door for those in need of refuge until they could become whole again and return to independent living. It was during this period I decided to accept the calling that God had placed on my life, which was to provide shelter for the homeless—hence the opening of The Bogan Quarters, a transition home for homeless military veteran women with our motto...“A home for those who protect our homeland”. Why women veteren? Because these are the mothers, wives, sisters, girlfriends and loved ones who believed so much in this country that they chose to put their lives at risk and stand on the front line so I could be free to live my life to the fullest, and realize my dreams. So much might never have come true for others nor myself if they had not made the sacrifice to protect all Americans. All too often these efforts are taken for granted and ignored. The least I can do is welcome those who make it back from the front lines by offering them a real home that was designed with them in mind. I think my husband still thinks that he’s dreaming since I first told him that God’s plan for my life was to provide a wonderful secure place for homeless military veteran women, and that we would need to sow a seed, and that seed would be to open our own home to provide this service. I believe his reply was, “God told us to do what!” We were older adults who had never owned a home and now God wanted us to give it up, plus we really had no where to go ourselves! Nevertheless, we both decided to be obedient and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, so we basically left everything we had in the house to make it comfortable, beautiful and secure for those to come. The Bogan Quarters has been open just over a year now and we are working with the Veterans Administration and various other agencies to seek out those in need. The Bogan Quarters is a faith-based, nationwide initiative with Chicago as its home base. Visit us on the web: www.BoganQuarters.org

About Bobbie Gradford-Bogan:

Born 1949 in Kosciusko, MS, (the same small town as Oprah Winfrey) the youngest of three daughters.

Raised, schooled (grade school through Chicago Loop City College) and worked in Chicago all my life.

Married with two adult biological children and two step children

How I came to be called to this ministry:

I am a Christian Believer with a passion for helping others. Since childhood I was brought up to believe that we should always help those in need. When I was very young and on occasions when I would be fortunate enough to receive some change from my parents, I would often times wait to see a homeless person walking down the street. When I saw someone in need coming my way I would run out and place coins in their path then hide so they would find them and think they had found pennies from heaven. As a child, I ran from them, now with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I run to them. It has taken me fifty-six years to be obedient to God’s calling and His plan and purpose for my life and I’m grateful that I didn’t miss it entirely. My hair has grayed and my steps have gotten slower, but my faith has gotten stronger and my mission larger than I could have ever expected. I thank God daily that he has prepared me for this mighty work.

The genesis of The Bogan Quarters:

Approximately 5 years ago, my husband and I had to move out of our apartment because the building was being sold. We had been searching for a long time and had found nothing that we were pleased with. While out on the search one more time, The Holy Spirit led us to one particular home. If I didn’t know better, I probably would say we had stumbled upon our home accidentally, but we soon came to believe it had been divine intervention leading us there.

Unfortunately, the owner/contractor told us this house was already sold and began showing us other homes. I did not like any of them although she told us she would renovate to suit us. I asked if I could see the home that was already sold just to give me some ideas on what I should be looking for. She declined our request because she did not like to show newly renovated properties when they were under contract. I persisted, insisted, whined and whined until she finally gave in and said I could take a peak inside. Little did she or I know that opening that door would also initiate the door opening on a new personal ministry and a house of love, hope and refuge for many others in need.

As I peaked inside the door, I felt compelled to step inside, and as my feet crossed the threshold, I claimed the house in the name of Jesus to be mine. She began to shake her head and say, “Oh no honey, you don’t understand, this house is already sold”. I replied, “No honey, you don’t understand, in the name of Jesus, this is my house.” We took ownership and moved in about thirty days later and the rest is history.

And so it became that even though we were both in our fifties, we had finally purchased our very first home. What the owner did not know was I had already asked God for this house before I had ever seen it. I had asked for a house large enough to have room for my children and grandchildren if they ever needed a place to come home to and for anyone who was homeless and needed a place to lay their head. Whoever said “You better be careful what you ask God for, because you just might get it” was so right because after being in the house only 2 weeks, the first knock on the door came. It was a family needing a place to stay and we were able to accommodate them. After they were back on their feet and had moved out, and a mere three weeks later, the next knock came at the door...another family homeless and needing a place to stay. After about a year, they too were able to get back on their feet and secure a place of their own.

Since then, our home has been a revolving door for those in need of refuge until they could become whole again and return to independent living. It was during this period I decided to accept the calling that God had placed on my life, which was to provide shelter for the homeless—hence the opening of The Bogan Quarters, a transition home for homeless military veteran women with our motto...“A home for those who protect our homeland”.

Why women veteren? Because these are the mothers, wives, sisters, girlfriends and loved ones who believed so much in this country that they chose to put their lives at risk and stand on the front line so I could be free to live my life to the fullest, and realize my dreams. So much might never have come true for others nor myself if they had not made the sacrifice to protect all Americans. All too often these efforts are taken for granted and ignored. The least I can do is welcome those who make it back from the front lines by offering them a real home that was designed with them in mind.

I think my husband still thinks that he’s dreaming since I first told him that God’s plan for my life was to provide a wonderful secure place for homeless military veteran women, and that we would need to sow a seed, and that seed would be to open our own home to provide this service. I believe his reply was, “God told us to do what!” We were older adults who had never owned a home and now God wanted us to give it up, plus we really had no where to go ourselves! Nevertheless, we both decided to be obedient and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, so we basically left everything we had in the house to make it comfortable, beautiful and secure for those to come. The Bogan Quarters has been open just over a year now and we are working with the Veterans Administration and various other agencies to seek out those in need. The Bogan Quarters is a faith-based, nationwide initiative with Chicago as its home base. Visit us on the web: www.BoganQuarters.org