Life Saver Ministries is a non-denominational, faith-based organization that operates a residential parenting program, called My Father’s House, for homeless pregnant and parenting young women between the ages of 13 and 21 and their children. We welcome young women regardless of their religious beliefs.

Our parenting and life-skills education program has two main priorities. Our first priority is to provide our clients with a safe, healthy, and stable living environment. Our second, and equally important, priority is to equip these young women with the tools they will need to care for themselves and their children, to become self-sufficient, and not become homeless again. 

Life Saver Ministries is a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit organization that is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and has provided housing and educational services to homeless pregnant and parenting teenage girls and their children since 1990. Although licensed by the state, we receive no state or federal funding.

Our first phase consisted of recruiting and training volunteer families (shepherding homes) who would open their hearts and homes to a young woman who was pregnant and had no place to turn. The young woman stayed with the family for the duration of her pregnancy and for three months postpartum with her child. During this time, mothers received instruction in prenatal care, life skills, and baby care, and counseling from the shepherding home parents in conjunction with Life Saver Ministries staff. Community agencies were accessed to supplement the program services. Seven shepherding homes were operating by 1994.

At the end of 1993, we purchased a building that had most recently housed a nursing home and had been deserted for five or six years. It suffered from water damage from burst pipes and years of neglect and vandalism, but it was structurally sound and suited our needs perfectly.

Over a period of four years, while continuing to work with young women in our shepherding homes and counseling programs, and with the help of dozens of volunteers who sacrificed thousands of hours of their time, and donations from many local individuals, churches, and businesses, we renovated My Father's House. Our effort has been described as “transforming a place that sheltered people at the end of their lives to one of new beginnings.”

My Father’s House opened in November, 1997. Since then, young mothers and their children have been living and learning in My Father’s House. The average stay is about nine months to a year, although several of our families have remained in the program for as long as two to four years.

In 2010 we developed our Transitional Assistance and Care (TAC) visitation team to meet with mothers who have moved on from our program. The TAC team meets with clients in their new living situation and helps facilitate the young families’ transition to independent living.

Among the 30 largest municipalities in Massachusetts, Lowell has the 5^th highest teen birth rate, the 3^rd highest teen mother infant mortality rate, and ranks near the bottom (24^th) in adequate prenatal care for pregnant teens. Lawrence has the highest teen birth rate and similar rankings in the other categories.

The population we serve is pregnant and/or parenting women up to the age of twenty-one. My Father’s House is located just outside the city of Lowell, MA and ten miles from Lawrence, MA.

Upon entering our program, all clients are scheduled for medical appointments. Expectant mothers are enrolled in birthing classes. Prenatal, infant and child care, and child development education is provided in-house and through collaboration with area agencies. Children are evaluated and enrolled in early intervention programs.

Since My Father’s House opened in 1997, more than 250 children have been evaluated for early intervention.

An adolescent mother’s education level is one of the best indicators of small children’s outcome. Education is a priority in our program. Every client who has not completed high school must enroll in school.

Since My Father’s House opened in 1997, more than 225 young women have furthered their education.

Clients also receive education in parenting, budgeting, nutrition, hygiene and health-care, communication, employment, healthy relationships, housing, self-advocacy, and finding and using community resources.

Most of our clients are from low-income families and have not been exposed to the cultural and recreational opportunities that abound in this area. We have weekly outings to museums, farms, concerts, parades, libraries, etc.

To ease our clients’ transition to independence, we offer a follow-up visitation program to all residents as they leave our program. This program helps ensure our clients do not become homeless again.

Since 2010, 40 families have taken part in our follow-up visitation program.

Life Saver Ministries and My Father’s House are supported entirely by private donations, fundraising events, and grants from foundations. We receive no government funding. Each year, we need to raise our entire budget to operate our residential parenting and follow-up programs, as well as take care of the maintenance and improvement of our property.

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