FORT MYERS, Fla. — A $110,000 donation from Lowe’s Hometown Grant will help Fort Myers nonprofit Our Mother’s Home complete renovations on a new transitional living facility for young moms in Southwest Florida.
Twenty-three years ago, the nonprofit came to Lee County to give young moms resources and support. Still, it’s the only foster home of its kind from Miami to Tampa that allows young moms and their babies to remain together.
“Prior to us, any young woman that went into foster care, if she became pregnant, they were automatically separated from their baby when they gave birth,” said Alicia Miller.
Alicia Miller is the Executive Director of the non-profit. She says this location is one of 12 DCF-licensed foster homes of its kind in Florida. “We take any girl from anywhere in Florida as long as they’re in the foster care system, and if they’re pregnant or have a baby, they really want to be better moms, they just don’t know how, so we’re teaching them,” Miller said.
They pride themselves on providing everything a mom needs in a home: a kitchen, family room, playroom and everything in between.
But at this location, they can only house so many girls, so a new location is vital.
At the current location in San Carlos Park, there are only five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The new building will have 10 bedrooms and six bathrooms. The extra space will allow the non-profit to expand its outreach and services.
Miller says, “Over 25% of babies born into the system end up in the care of themselves, we give them a safe space to fail, and then we help them and teach them the right way.”
Some moms only stay for a few months, but others need a little more time to get back on their feet. Miller tells ABC7 one mom has been staying with them for five years, “She graduated high school this past year, and she’s enrolled in Fort Myers Technical College. She’s in a culinary program, so she goes to school every day. So, success is measured very small here, so getting somebody to graduate high school, especially somebody that’s been with us for years, was really big for us, like Lily’s mom (daughter of resident who has been with the non-profit for five years).”
Each night the moms make dinner and do their assigned chores. They’re also encouraged to get jobs and further their education.
“I think a lot of people’s misconception about us is that we’re home for teen moms and that we’re saving them from this promiscuous lifestyle that they had, when I would say just in a couple years that I’ve been here, I can think of two or three residents out of 30 that truly just if I’m pregnant doing what teens do. The rest of them are here because of some sort of trauma or abuse,” said Miller.
But even those providing support need support themselves. Without donations, Our Mother’s Home wouldn’t be able to offer these services and resources for young moms in Southwest Florida.
Miller said, “About 30% of our funding comes from the state so the rest of that is grants, donations and the majority of what we do is really relying on the community but we’re truly making a difference it is a small difference you know we never have more than 10 girls, but that’s 10 girls that we hopefully change their lives forever.”
The agency will no longer need its current location in San Carlos Park and is looking in the community for another agency that wants to expand its services and needs a facility or space to use.
For more information on Our Mother’s Home, click here.