A Voice for the Good: A Mother's Hope

^{3Rivers is proud to support so many of the non-profit organizations that are committed to making our community a better place to live, work, and play, and we want to help spread the word about the difference they're making in our region. We’ve teamed up with 97.3WMEE to bring you   A Voice for the Good, a series in which we feature local organizations on our website in the form of an informative articles as well as on-air segments highlighting the non-profits’ missions.}

This article features A Mother’s Hope, a local non-profit on a mission to shelter pregnant women who are experiencing homelessness and [provide] life-changing opportunities for growth.

We connected with Stasia Roth, Founder and Executive Director of A Mother’s Hope, to learn more about how this organization is making a difference in our region. 

How did A Mother’s Hope come to be? What’s the history/story behind how the organization initially got started?

A Mother's Hope (AMH) began through prayer and a desire to help God put an end to pain and suffering in our world. In the spring of 2013, I found myself overwhelmed by the pain and suffering in the world. I desperately told Jesus that I wanted to help Him stop the suffering. Not long after, I heard the call to create a home for pregnant women who were homeless. First, I needed to determine how great the need for a maternity home was in the community. Speaking to the local crisis pregnancy centers and other organizations who worked with pregnant women in need, it was determined that pregnant homeless women were going to one of three shelters: Charis House, Vincent House, and Just Neighbors; they shared that when pregnant women are housed in their shelters, they face many additional obstacles not specifically addressed by their programs. In all the research, it was found that there was a desperate need for a home to provide shelter and support to pregnant women in Fort Wayne.

The home to become A Mother’s Hope was donated by the Mary Cross Tippmann Foundation. This donation allowed us to begin providing housing to pregnant homeless women much sooner. The large five-bedroom house sits on five beautiful acres on the northside of Fort Wayne. This location allows our residents access to the bus line, closeness to area physicians and hospitals, plus there are many employment opportunities close by. In October 2018, we welcomed our first resident home to A Mother’s Hope. We continue to grow and expand in our mission of serving pregnant women experiencing homelessness and their babies. Since October 2018, AMH has provided shelter and support to 97 women, with 51 babies born during their stay.

What is the official mission of A Mother’s Hope, and how is it currently being put into play?

Our mission is to be a refuge for homeless, pregnant women that strengthens their opportunities for stability.

We aim to provide the balance of compassion and accountability, loving each woman where she is at. At A Mother’s Hope, every woman is encouraged to find a new hope for her future. We remind her that all hope is never lost and that we believe in her, even when she doesn’t believe in herself.

AMH is not just a shelter. AMH provides a goal-oriented program that offers a supportive and safe living environment for every woman and baby. Each aspect of our program is strategically designed to meet each woman where she is in her journey to provide the most beneficial services for her. We recognize that each woman is unique in her life experiences and circumstances that led her to our program. Our goal is to guide and support every woman as she defines and strives for her own individual version of success.

How do you see the mission and vision of A Mother’s Hope evolving in the future in the Northeast Indiana community? Where do you see your organization a year from now, or even five years from now?

The demand for our program extends beyond our current capacity, at this time women who qualify for our program are those without other children in their care. We’ve received over 150 requests and applications for housing from pregnant women with other children in their care; because we are currently unable to serve these women, we had to refer them to other shelters. Much like AMH, these other shelters are usually at capacity and, therefore, some remain unserved. In cases where these women were able to find shelter, it was at a shelter that does not offer programming specifically aimed at the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum women, as is done at AMH.

In 2023, the Strategic Planning Committee of the Board of Directors began working with True North Strategic Advisors on an expansion plan to increase our capacity and expand our program to serve pregnant women with other children in their care by opening another home. While there is no set date for the opening of the second home, we’re trusting that it will come to fruition in the same way that all other aspects of A Mother’s Hope have: in God’s timing.

Are there any exciting new developments, updates, or changes that have recently taken place at A Mother’s Hope? 

In order to continue our day-to-day operations and the planning process for a new home, we hired additional administrative staff. However, this required taking up space that was designed for residents at the house, creating a dilemma. We needed office space – which meant we had to expand to a formal administrative office. We were blessed by the Mary Cross Tippmann Foundation with office space that we have transformed into a beautiful space for all of our Operations Staff and is now the donation hub.

Could you share a standout story or two that really illustrates the impact A Mother’s Hope and/or its programs has on people in our community? 

One beautiful summer day in July, a young lady walked through the doors of A Mother’s Hope for the very first time; she was looking to put the pieces of her life back together after experiencing an incredible loss. Her baby’s father had passed away in a devastating car accident. Dealing with overwhelming grief, she relapsed in her recovery. Life had hit a new low and then she discovered she was pregnant. Already fighting the possibility of losing her seven year-old daughter who was placed with family due to her ongoing struggle with alcohol.

When reflecting on that time in her life, she would say, “I didn’t care about anything. I didn’t care whether I lived or whether I died. Now when I look back, I realize it wasn’t fair to my daughter.” That’s when she realized that she needed help, which was amplified when she learned of her pregnancy. Entering our program she was determined to pull her life together and create a new path for herself. and her children. When life got hard, she asked for help and allowed others to step in to support her. “It’s definitely humbling coming to a place like this, not letting your pride get in your way…admitting that I do have a problem and I do need help,” she said. Often her positivity would uplift other women in the program, cheering them on and letting them know that if she could do it, so can they. Spending time reading devotionals and time with God while at AMH. We saw the shame begin to decrease as her reliance on God and His plan for her life began to take root. After completing our program, she now lives in her own apartment and works full time. We hear from our graduated resident often as she loves to stop in to say hi. She is always welcomed with big smiles and lots of hugs!

How can those interested in your services go about getting started or getting in touch?

A Mother’s Hope is not an emergency shelter. This means that we have an intake process that typically takes about 7 days, and we usually have a waiting list. Women may go directly to our website to fill out an application or call and speak to a staff member at 260.444.4975.