A Firm Foundation
What comes to mind when you think of a firm foundation? Perhaps a well-built basement or a thick and heavy piece of concrete. But what about a foundation for something alive?
It's true; most living things need a foundation to thrive. For example, even the mightiest of oaks would tumble down in a slight breeze if it weren't for their magnificent root structures. Their roots are their foundation and allow them to grow tall and strong while providing them with essential nutrients.
People are not so different from these oak trees. Every person needs a foundation that provides stability and peace of mind. Without it, life can feel like it is swirling out of control. *cue the Wicked Witch of the West theme*
So, why is a safe and stable home part of that essential foundation?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a helpful tool for thinking through the need for housing. Most likely, you've seen it before; a pyramid that shows each level of needs that needs to be met before moving on to the next. The foundation of this pyramid is Physiological Needs- the biological requirements for human survival. This includes things like air, food, water, and shelter. Next on the pyramid is Safety Needs, which includes things like security, order, law, and stability.
Our Residential Program, aimed to launch in Q2 of this year, will address the first two levels in the pyramid- the foundation! This program is about more than providing a bed to sleep on; it's about ensuring teen mamas feel safe and giving them something they know they can rely on. Once those needs are met, teen mamas can improve their mental health, find a job, work on their parenting skills, and more. These are steps on a mama’s journey toward claiming a brighter future for herself and her kiddos.
According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness,
"Housing stability is essential for people to address their challenges and pursue their goals. Housing and income are core social determinants of personal health, along with the circumstances under which people are born, grow up, live, work, age, and access health care. Substantial evidence indicates that when people—both adults and children alike—experience homelessness, their prospects for future educational attainment, employment growth, health stability, and family preservation are significantly reduced." (evidence-behind-approaches-that-end-homelessness.pdf (usich.gov))
This year, our Program Team is working to intentionally design a residential program tailored to the needs of teen mamas, which we think is pretty cool! There is much work to be done between now and the program launch, which is targeted for Q2. If you are passionate about housing pregnant and parenting teen mamas, contact Holly, our Director of Development, today!
