A year end message from our Executive Director, Amber Hornsby [amber@estherhomesmn.com]

“ESTHER Homes to me is a family, a genuine community of people who want to help people grow individually and with one another!”

- Mama R

We all face crisis - it’s inevitable. ESTHER Homes exists to come alongside pregnant women who are facing it alone. The city of St. Paul does not have housing support programs with a focus on maternal health and birth outcomes. St. Paul also has some of the worst birth outcomes in MN. When you support ESTHER Homes, you are investing in a housing program that focuses on pregnancy and postpartum support, birth outcomes, mental health and long-term family stability!

We believe that when you have a safe space and a group of people in your corner, who are deeply invested in you, no matter what crisis comes you will be able to overcome it.

Mama R moved into ESTHER Homes during her second trimester of pregnancy. Once having a safe and stable place to live, she immediately began setting goals with ESTHER staff: wanting to attend college, save money, and get her driver's license. Hours were put in with ESTHER staff behind the wheel and just months after her baby was born she was able to get her driver's license. She was ambitious and started college within a month postpartum. However, knowing she had a stable place to land, she was able to be honest with herself shortly thereafter and realized school was too much for her at the time. Less than a month in, she withdrew from her classes. She instead found a full-time job that also offered childcare. Utilizing ESTHER Homes' required savings program, where families invest 30% of their income into an account that is returned to them when they move out, this mama was able to leave with substantial savings! She moved out, was able to afford a market rate apartment and was even able to purchase a vehicle. After a year and a half, she is still stably housed, working the same full-time job and has even gotten married!

ESTHER Homes provides a safe space to fail, a safe space to take courageous steps. Although our steps don't always work as expected. ESTHER provides a listening ear or an encouraging voice during life's twists and turns. We are very intentional to make the home inviting: where moms feel safe enough to take a deep breath, look above and outside of crisis, and begin to dream and hope for a future. When days are hard, they are reminded of truths: that they are worthy and belong here. This support shifts the way mamas see themselves and how they show up to their lives. When all these things collide, healing happens, goals are set and achieved and these women step into motherhood gracefully as they move from crisis to family stability.

“You guys were the first thing in my life that had ever felt like direction in a way that made me think I mattered!” -Mama M

We lead with LOVE. So often it feels impossible to fully convey WHY we need all of you to continue to pour into this home. But our truth is this: we absolutely CANNOT do this without you. Each month we walk the tenuous line of being a small nonprofit ensuring we can continue to say YES and keep our doors open, hoping that our donors will continue to see the value in our work and continue to invest in the families we come alongside. And every month YOU do! You are not just investing in the lives of the women, but generations to come.

ESTHER Homes will celebrate 10 years in 2025 and we are expectant and full of hope for the growth we will experience! Our goal since purchasing the home has been to “Increase our Capacity” by adding an additional 2 rooms and a bathroom in the basement. Celebrate with us as we are weeks away from this project being completed! With each passing year, new staff, volunteers, board members, and donors are brought to the table to nurture and grow this organization into what it is today. The support of our community is essential to our mission and success. YOU have made the space possible!

Leading into 2025 we need to

raise $45,000

$45,000 is the increase in our budget to cover the increased program costs and needed staff to partner with the additional families we are now able to come alongside.

Will you SHOW UP, INVEST and RESHAPE the way our community engages with crisis pregnancy? We are improving birth outcomes in our city one family at a time!

We invite you to continue to come to the table and celebrate and champion the families of ESTHER Homes!

Thank you for showing up with us!