Women who experience complications during pregnancy are at a higher risk of a cardiovascular event, according to the AHA. | American Heart Association (AHA)
Women who experience complications during pregnancy are at a higher risk of a cardiovascular event, according to the AHA. | American Heart Association (AHA)
Gina Tomes, family life director at Bethlehem House, hopes to provide a safe space and a "place of empowerment and hope" for the women who come there for help.
Tomes helped launch the maternity home in 2005. It has been successful in offering what its leaders call "life-affirming services rooted in Catholic tradition," although the house is open to people of all all faiths. Tomes believes the house's mission is an important one.
"The Bethlehem House is a home," Tomes said in an interview with Newsmax. "We've created a maternity home that provides residential care for women – a place of empowerment and hope for women who are in a crisis pregnancy and want to choose life and need help."
Tomes said Bethlehem House primarily helps women who are dealing with "addiction, poverty, homelessness, family abandonment, and every form of abuse you can imagine." The home offers therapy, health and wellness, and a pathway to thrive after they graduate from the program.
The Family Life program, which is provided at no cost, is generally a 10-12 month intervention program. According to the home's website, its core courses include "Financial Literacy, Pinwheels Health and Wellness, Sexual Integrity, Baby and Me, Conquering Codependency, Domestic Violence, God Appetite, Toddler Talk, Addiction and Recovery, Humble Lily Job Workforce, Cooking Matters, and Personal Coaching." Staff members are available to help 24 hours a day.
Bethlehem House has helped more than 1,200 families since 2005, according to a post on MSN.com.
"Prior to arriving at Bethlehem House, 98% of our residents were chronically homeless, 92% suffered from addiction, 86% had a criminal history, and 100% were below the poverty line with little or no family support," Tomes said in the post. After they complete the Family Life program, 96% of its residents "break the cycle of homelessness and maintain stable housing and 50% of our current and former residents are working toward a college degree or mastering a trade. Nearly 86% of our residents achieve and maintain sobriety."
Tomes was asked to speak at the March For Life on Jan. 20; she spoke about her belief in the type of services that the Bethlehem House provides for women.
"Through the intervention in a woman's life, by just surrounding her with the proper care and love and services — it changes their life," Tomes said in an article on Fox News.com. "Every little bit helps in strategic planning for their future and foundation. We have seen miracles happen on a daily basis. We work with women that overcome addiction, we end homelessness, we are poverty fighters. By choosing life, that is all possible."
One former resident of Bethlehem House known as "Reneé" said was sent to prison and lost custody of three of her older children before finding out she was pregnant again.
"I was so scared," Reneé told The Catholic Voice. "I wanted to make sure I could stay sober. My worst fear was losing my child and enduring that pain again."
That fear led her to seek help from Bethlehem House, which she said helped transform her.
"I was lost in the world," she said. "Bethlehem House helped me find stability – mentally, physically, [and] spiritually."
Alerts Sign-up