Three mothers have graduated from the Foundation House Ministries program, giving them the tools to become effective, stable parents, said officials. The nonprofit provides financial, emotional, and physical support to mothers or pregnant women who struggle with addiction, homelessness, and joblessness. The women must complete a checklist before graduating, and more than 100 women have graduated since the ministry opened in 2014.
The mothers graduated in December and were required to pass the program’s curriculum, find stable housing, find reliable childcare and transportation, and enroll in school or find employment. Graduate Angel T. and her son, Lakino, will be moving out of Foundation House Ministries and into their own place. “I'm both nervous and excited to be graduating and moving into my own apartment," said Angel. "I didn't think I was ever going to find a place I could afford. It took me months to find something decent. So grateful for all the help from Foundation House. They've been such a blessing to my son and me."
Suzanne Burns, executive director of Foundation House Ministries, said that 95 percent of her clients graduate with stable housing but that percentage could improve with transitional housing. She said that affordable housing is hard to find and many of the clients do not qualify for income-based housing programs due to their histories. “We need more affordable, transitional housing in our communities," said Ms. Burns. "We dream of being able to open a transitional housing program that would be affordable and allow our moms, and other low-income families in our communities, to live with very low rent for 5-10 years, giving them enough time to grow their income and personal stability to be able to afford standard market rent." She hopes to build an apartment complex that would serve more than 100 mothers on their 10-acre lot.
Founded in 2012, Foundation House Ministries gives mothers in crisis and their children hope for a new life. If interested in donating to help fund a design concept for their transitional housing complex, please visit foundationhouseministries.org.