With $500,000 anonymous gift, The Haven Home shifts focus to better support pregnant women, new moms

The former overflow shelter in Cleveland has shifted to become a family maternity home, providing housing as well as connections to medical, mental health care and more

Since The Haven Home opened in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood in 2017, the nonprofit has served hundreds of women and children experiencing homelessness as an overflow shelter, providing temporary emergency housing until beds became available at a family shelter. Now, after years of adjustments to better serve and understand the community’s needs, the nonprofit is shifting its focus—and received a $500,000 gift to support its new mission.

Following a temporary closure for renovations, The Haven Home reopened in April as a family maternity home, helping pregnant women and those who recently had babies gain access to stable housing, healthcare, transportation, and therapy and support services.

“When we served as more of a ‘waiting room’ until family shelters had room for our mothers and children, we never knew who was going to be here, how long and where they’d go next—so we couldn’t serve them as well as I know they deserve,” said Cynthia Rios, executive director of The Haven Home. “New moms would leave the hospital, come to us and then need to find housing within 30 days.”

As a family maternity home, Rios and her team have shifted to truly serve these mothers and their families. Capacity allows for eight to 10 mothers and their babies and young children at a time, who will have the opportunity to stay for up to one year.

The focus upon their arrival, Rios explained, is on healing—through art therapy, social support, emotional learning and more. Journey Center for Safety and Healing, for example, provides therapy services as well as educational awareness surrounding domestic violence.

And when these mothers need medical support, they connect with healthcare professionals who provide pre- and post-natal care on-site at The Haven Home or through in-person visits at Cleveland Clinic (with transportation coordinated for the mothers).

In the future, Rios hopes to expand services even further, offering extended support in areas such as employment, education, economics and more.

“Our goal,” Rios said, “is to make sure mom is ready to transition to her own place.”

This new focus was compelling to the anonymous donor who, after touring the facility and seeing its exceptional potential to help the Cleveland community, gave half a million dollars to The Haven Home this week.

“We are so grateful to this incredible individual,” Rios said. “Their generosity will help us elevate the services and support we can provide our mothers and families, setting them on paths to success we otherwise wouldn’t be able to provide.”