Harbor House for Pregnant Teens…Coming Soon
Helping Pregnant, Homeless Young Women
This will be a home designated for pregnant homeless women and children in need of care. Safe Harbor’s Harbor House will be a safe haven that provides residential homes for any pregnant young women and children in need regardless of race, ethnicity or religion.
Recognizing the social ills facing the homeless youth and mothers who have young children and infants, this program was designed to address the relevant social issues of homeless teens and young pregnant moms. This program is a faith-based core program designed to introduce the homeless pregnant women to life skills like parenting techniques, health and nutrition, job skills, career development, character building, behavior modification, self care, drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence. Safe Harbor will also provide case management services, including assistance with employment, social services, medical, school, housing, etc.
7 Facts about Pregnant, Homeless Young Women
1.
Homeless young pregnant women find themselves without safe places to live and without access to many opportunities and supports.
2.
Homeless young parents have little to no access to basic needs, have difficulty accessing temporary income assistance, and are largely uneducated in terms of health, sexual safety, and child-raising.
3.
Though most homeless pregnant and parenting youth have not completed high school, work requirements imposed on young adult parents (either as a condition for receiving temporary income assistance or out of necessity) take away their chances of completing secondary and post-secondary education, and thus imperil their opportunity for high-paying employment and quality of life.
4.
Many homeless parenting youths watch as their children are removed from them and placed in foster care.
5.
Pregnant homeless youth are at high risk for substance abuse, and upwards of one-fifth of homeless pregnant youth identify as being dependent on substances. Studies show that substance use is affected in part by living circumstances, and increases as living situations of homeless pregnant youth become “more stressful and less stable.”
6.
Pregnant homeless youth put themselves and their unborn babies at risk when they use substances. When consumed by an expectant mother, all substances (tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, etc.) are transmitted to the unborn baby through the placenta and are able to cause extreme irreversible damage such as birth defects, low birth weight, and among other effects, fetal and infant death.
7.
Homeless women have low birth weight babies at higher rates than other women. Further, miscarriages are two to four times higher among homeless street youth than the general population, attributed in part to increased rates of substance abuse.
About the Program
Who is accepted into the program: Pregnant women are given priority, and women with a baby less than six weeks old will also be considered. Pregnant women with other children up to 5 years of age are welcome. While there is no maximum age limit, we can best accommodate women 15 and older.
Cost: There is no initial fee required. Once an income is obtained, residents are encouraged to contribute.
How long can individuals stay in the program: Safe Harbor offers long term placement 12 through 18 months in the program.
Where will individuals be housed: Every mom will have her own room. Safe Harbor rooms are fully equipped with furniture including bed(s), crib(s), a dresser and nightstands. Items needed are your basic necessities, such as clothing and personal hygiene products.
Our goal: To help homeless, pregnant women in dire need. Our goal is to help you to have your baby in a safe, loving home while providing the support you need to get back on your feet.
The program offers:
- maternity care before and after birth
- help with budgeting and finding a job
- daycare for your baby while you work
- classes on parenting, nutrition, and social skills
- help with finding and transitioning to a permanent home
- a lot of love and encouragement throughout your stay
- spiritual support from our counselors and caseworkers
Partner With Us
To help us make this home a reality, we need partners like you to give to the vision to see pregnant homeless teens find a place called home.
Fill out the form below if your organization, agency, or home is interested in partnering with us. We thank you for your interest!
Donate to Harbor House
We appreciate your contribution to help us make this home a reality.