When women arrive at Vita Nova Maternity Community, they’re often carrying more than the weight of pregnancy. Many arrive exhausted, uncertain and without a safe place to land. What they find here is not just shelter, but structure, support and the space to begin rebuilding.
What happens next is where the real story unfolds.
Over the past year, we’ve shared stories about the programs that support our residents, the staff who walk alongside them and the challenges facing women experiencing housing instability. This year, we’ll focus more intentionally on something just as important: what success actually looks like after stability begins.
Because stability changes everything.
When stability replaces survival
Katie arrived at Vita Nova while pregnant and without a safe place to stay. “I was left with no money and no safe place to stay. I did not know what to do,” she shared.
At Vita Nova, she found consistency, accountability and community. She participated in life skills classes, learned to budget, gained access to nutritious meals and therapeutic support and prepared for motherhood in an environment designed for healing.
She gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Over time, her confidence grew.
Today, Katie has taken another meaningful step forward. She has transitioned into nearby apartment housing created for Vita Nova alumnae, allowing her to continue building independence while remaining connected to the community she’s come to trust.
“I’m not the same person I was when I got here,” she has said. “I’m more confident. I have goals. I have peace.”
That kind of transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It happens when stability becomes the foundation. (Read more about Katie’s journey.)
Why stability matters
Research consistently supports what we see every day. Stable housing during and after pregnancy is linked to lower stress, improved maternal mental health, healthier birth
outcomes and stronger parent-child bonding. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also emphasized that housing stability in early childhood plays a critical role in long-term health, development and emotional well-being.
Vita Nova’s model addresses that reality directly. By pairing housing with education, structure, life skills and community, women are not simply surviving a crisis. They are building a path forward.
The changes we see over time
Every woman’s journey is unique, but certain patterns emerge when stability is in place.
We begin to see women:
- Show up consistently for responsibilities and appointments
- Grow more confident in parenting
- Set goals for education and employment
- Strengthen communication and relationship skills
- Build routines that support both themselves and their children
We’re also seeing tangible outcomes as a result of our programs. One resident recently earned her phlebotomy certification through Metro Community College, and another began a nursing program. Others are taking important career steps as well, including being able to reliably get to job interviews, prepare with confidence and show up ready to take the next step forward. These are the kinds of changes that become possible when stability, support and structure are in place.
Programs like Circle of Security, Bridges Out of Poverty, nutrition education, along with case management and peer support, all reinforce these changes. Over time, what begins as crisis support becomes something deeper: self-trust.
A different definition of success
Success at Vita Nova is rarely one dramatic moment. It’s often quieter than that.
It looks like a mother who keeps showing up even when things feel hard. A resident who learns to advocate for herself. A woman who begins to believe she deserves stability.
A parent who starts to envision a future for her child.
Sometimes success is enrolling in college. Sometimes it’s securing a certification. Sometimes it’s making it to a job interview prepared and confident for the first time in a long time.
And sometimes, it looks like moving into a new apartment with your child, carrying forward the tools, confidence and support you’ve built along the way.
Looking ahead
These are just a few examples. Many more are unfolding quietly every day as women begin to rebuild their lives with stability, structure and support.
This work happens because of community partners who refer women in need, volunteers who give their time and presence and donors who believe every mother deserves safety and opportunity.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to support women and children in our community, we invite you to learn more about Vita Nova’s mission, explore opportunities to get involved or consider making a gift.
Your support helps create the stability that makes lasting change possible.