OUR STORY:

ESTHER’s beginnings

ESTHER Homes began in July 2015 with the commitment of two women to move into a space larger than what they needed for themselves and come alongside mothers facing homelessness or crisis. 

Amber and Rachel met in Mozambique, Africa in the fall of 2012 participating in a hands-on ministry school. They stayed in touch when they came back to the states, and shared dreams of what ESTHER Homes could be. Rachel grew up in Iowa and Amber grew up in Tennessee, and both moved to the Twin Cities in 2013. For the next few years each worked full time, and in their free time reached out to build connections with youth shelters and pregnancy resource centers. In July 2015, Amber and Rachel moved into the St. Paul house with ESTHER’s first two families.

A need to fill in St. Paul, Minnesota

Besides shelter, Ramsey County does not have housing support programs with a focus on maternal health and birth outcomes. Ramsey County also does not have “right to shelter” laws—this means the city is not responsible to find everyone a place to land. Without a “right to shelter” law, individuals go onto a waiting list to get into programs or shelters. Ramsey County also has some of the worst statistical birth outcomes in MN. 

Esther homes today

ESTHER is an acronym: Encourage + Strengthen Those Hopeless, Entangled + Raged. That is the heart of the home. ESTHER comes alongside women who usually feel hopeless to some level: trapped or entangled within a vicious cycle of generational poverty, trauma, and unexpected pregnancy. Many feel trapped within the imperfect system of governmental assistance that leads to a sense of dependency and frustration. 

Since opening the doors to pregnant women, Amber and Rachel have had the opportunity to live alongside inspiring women and create a community of hope, laughter, and support. The home is a place for mothers to lean in when they need practical help like transportation; to launch out as they grow in new skills like budgeting or time management; and to save money each month to fund long-term dreams of college, housing, and more. These mothers take courageous steps to achieve goals that will change their families’ future.