Elizabeth House is a residential shelter program in the community of Pasadena committed to the health and welfare of adult pregnant women and their children. Elizabeth House is the only 501©(3) non-profit organization in the San Gabriel Valley that specifically addresses the needs of pregnant women who also have small children and who lack adequate shelter and prenatal care.
Elizabeth House was birthed as an idea in 1993 after a local Pasadena resident donated a house to the Pasadena Covenant Church for the purpose of serving at-risk women and children in the community. A task force researched the need in the greater Pasadena area and concluded that there was not a shelter in existence within 15 miles that specifically took in adult pregnant women who may or may not already have children. It was during this time, that the Task Force chairperson, Debora Unruh, witnessed firsthand in the hospital, a woman losing custody of her newborn baby due to her drug use and homeless situation. This experience infused in Debora, a passion to make a difference in this target population. As the founding director, she led community partners, churches, civic groups, individuals, businesses, and foundations in a partnership of opening the house to its first resident on July 15, 1994.
Sixteen years later, Elizabeth House has provided essential shelter, food, care and counseling for 228 women and 326 babies/children in the San Gabriel Valley. This basic yet comprehensive service of meeting the physical, economic, emotional and spiritual needs of this population continues to be a huge need today.
A Comprehensive Program
Each woman who enters Elizabeth House participates in our main programs: Case Management, Parent Education, Health Education, Financial Management, Job Skills Training, Therapeutic Services (individual counseling and group classes), and Spiritual/Emotional Health. The House can accommodate six women and four children at any one time. Clients stay 4-6 months after their babies are born. In a year’s time, an average of 15-18 family units are served. The goal of our program is not only to support these women during their time of crisis, but also to challenge them in a way that prevents issues such as financial instability child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, and drug dependency in order to provide a healthy, positive environment for their children.
The methods of responding to the needs of the clientele are seen clearly in the comprehensive program developed for the residents of Elizabeth House. The strength of this program is most clearly seen in the personal case management that is offered each resident, which includes educational classes, one-on-one weekly meetings, and individual and group therapy. HOWEVER, over these past several years, it has become very clear to us that much of the long-term success of our program lies in the follow-up care and support that is provided to our alumni after they transition to independent living. The follow-up that is provided to our alumni is essential and critical, and as this number of clients has grown, it has become necessary to expand the services we offer.
The goal of our program is to stay connected with our clients as long as they continue to need our services. We recognize that our clients developed unhealthy patterns over a lifetime, and as such, changing those life patterns into healthy and sustaining behaviors will require a long-term relationship and support system. Currently, we are in contact with over 70% of the residents after they leave Elizabeth House. The Elizabeth House Follow-Up program assists our past residents with continuing their therapy, finding employment, moving into safe and affordable housing, and following up with healthy living (drug and alcohol sobriety, doctor’s appointments, and nutrition). The Case Manager visits and evaluates the residents’ independent living situations following their departure from Elizabeth House. Our Follow-Up program exemplifies our commitment to helping the residents become self-sufficient, functioning parents and members of our community. We also partner with various organizations that can offer more specific education and service, helping our clients to take advantage of the many resources available.