Mother’s Refuge: Lindsay’s Story
When Lindsay learned she was pregnant, fear washed over her. She was already struggling just to take care of herself, and the idea of bringing a baby into her world felt impossible. In her desperation, she found herself considering options she never imagined she would—thoughts that brought her deep grief and conflicted with her faith. She felt ashamed, alone, and unsure where to turn. Then, Lindsay found Mother’s Refuge—and her life has completely transformed.
From the moment Lindsay arrived, she was welcomed with dignity and compassion. She was given a safe place to live, nutritious meals, baby essentials, counseling, and access to medical care. Most importantly, she was surrounded by people who believed in her before she believed in herself.
Mother’s Refuge has been offering that same hope to young mothers since 1987. Its mission is to shelter and educate homeless, pregnant, and parenting young women by providing comprehensive services that empower them to make successful life decisions for themselves and their babies.
Through the Maternity Home Program, young mothers ages 12–21 receive safe housing, meals, baby supplies, prenatal and postpartum support, parenting classes, transportation assistance, and life-skills coaching. Through individualized case management, moms gain tools to care for themselves and their children while preparing for long-term success.
Residents may stay in the maternity home until their child’s third birthday, ensuring consistent guidance during formative years. The Transitional Living Program (TLP) supports shelter graduates and young families in the community facing housing instability, offering up to three additional years of housing with wraparound services including employment readiness, financial literacy, mental health services, and intensive case management. Employed residents “pay” 30% of income as rent, which is returned as savings upon graduation, fostering financial independence.
The need is immense: 100% of residents live below 185% of the federal poverty level. Last year, 83% experienced abuse, 82% had involvement with the foster care system, and 96% had at least one diagnosed mental health condition. In 2024, Mother’s Refuge received over 1,000 crisis calls from young mothers seeking safety and stability. Of those, 276 young women qualified for the Maternity Home Program and 741 qualified for the Transitional Living Program. Every call represents a young mother just like Lindsay—someone praying for a lifeline.
To meet this growing need, Mother’s Refuge is currently in the midst of its Welcome Home Capital Campaign, transforming a former boutique hotel in downtown Independence—across from President Truman’s historic home—into 12 apartments for the Transitional Living Program, plus offices, a community gathering space, and indoor and outdoor play spaces. This vision will allow Mother’s Refuge to serve more babies, more mothers, and more futures.
Lindsay has defied every statistic. She has saved thousands of dollars, purchased a car, and maintained full-time employment—recently earning a promotion to Shift Lead. Her daughter is thriving in daycare, which Lindsay secured on her own. She completed a six-week outpatient therapy program, built deep emotional resilience, and became active in a local church, serving and building a supportive community around her. Lindsay is planning to pursue her dream of running her own business.
Lindsay often reflects on where she would be if she had tried to navigate pregnancy and early motherhood alone. Today, she knows she is strong, capable, and worthy—not because life became easier, but because she finally had the support to rise. Mother’s Refuge gave Lindsay a future. Now, she gives her daughter one. With your help we can give other homeless mothers a future filled with hope.
To learn more or support this mission, visit MothersRefuge.org or call 816-353-8070.
