Rosemary Hulsman Empowers Women in Swissvale

Rosemary Hulsman, a lifelong resident of , has been volunteering for the POWER House, a halfway house on Church Street and the first of the organization’s programs, since its inception in 1991.

The POWER organization helps women struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. The house is a renovated convent, previously belonging to St. Anselm Church.

“There was a lot of hesitation at first,” Hulsman said. “People were uncomfortable with the connotation of a halfway house and it being so close to the church and school.”

Even Hulsman was skeptical at first. She wasn’t sure what to expect, and had never interacted with recovering addicts before. The fact that she’s still working at the house 20 years later is not something she expected.

“Once I met these women and heard their stories, my whole attitude changed,” Hulsman said.

The women of the POWER House shared their stories with Hulsman on long walks throughout the neighborhood, showing them sides of Swissvale they had never seen. She was so dedicated to these walks that she did it up until she physically couldn’t anymore.

“I took the women on those morning walks until my knees gave out,” Hulsman said. “Now, I go there to drive the girls to medical appointments, and help the house with anything else they need.”

Hulsman assists with annual POWER , compiling care packages, and also wraps gifts for the women each holiday season. She even established a children’s room in the house, where kids can spend time playing and drawing while visiting their mothers. She has served on POWER’s community advisory committee and its board of directors. 

“I don’t think many agencies are fortunate enough to have a volunteer like Rosemary,” POWER Volunteer Coordinator Karen Clark said.

In May 2010, Hulsman was awarded POWER’s Window of Hope Award for her contributions to the organization over the years. She was overwhelmed by the experience.

“Those women have given me so much more than I could ever give them,” Hulsman said. “I will defend them ‘til the end.”

Since the POWER House was established, the organization has also started an outpatient care facility in Wilkinsburg, and POWER Connection, which assigns mentors (women who are in recovery) to clients referred by Allegheny County's Office of Children, Youth, and Families, and is an intervention and recovery support program. 

If you want to get involved, there are plenty of ways to donate to and volunteer for POWER.