Service Coordinator Erica Billins, Program Coordinator Nicole Schlick and Housing Manager Adrianna Judd

Evelyn’s House was opened almost 20 years ago in 2007 under the Family Nurturing Center, named after FNC founder Donna Elefante’s mother. The mission then still holds strong – wraparound care for young women and their children, to move them to independence and success.

First… who lives with us?

Let’s get a snapshot of who these young women are. They are teenagers with stressors or trauma caused by a multitude of things – they are homeless, pregnant or have very young children, recently removed from domestic violence situations, lacking strong support systems and looking for respite from family disfunction. Finance instability is common, the need for parenting education is great and the young women also need to gain the know how to 

They have a lot to sort out. 
They have a lot to overcome. 
We are the place they can catch their breath and start building their lives.

And what happens while they’re here?

After they are stabilized and settled, our staff works with each young woman on an individual service plan, which needs to have measurable short term and long term goals.

And there are requirements that need to be followed. Everyone living here has to be in school, working or volunteering. They need to commit to following their treatment plan. And they attend weekly group meetings and are encouraged to get an initial mental health evaluation. 

They do not receive food stamps while they are at the house, as we provide everything they need during their time with us as part of the program. We shop with them for food, make lists, prioritize purchases, work on budgets, and prepare meals together, which aids them in household planning in many ways. We provide diapers, wipes and toiletries.

We conduct weekly room inspections to be sure the women are keeping their space not only clean, but also safe for their little ones. We enforce curfews and they need to meet all of their appointment dates – job interviews, medical or otherwise. We also provide education in a variety of ways through speakers, referrals and special programs on topics such as wellness, safe sleep, SNAP benefits, sex education, nutrition and more. Weekend passes become available after 30 days and communication is strictly enforced for those visits.

Rules and routine help with overall structure for their lives so they can take those skills with them as they move towards independent living.

We also provide the intangible things that young women this age need, including affection and positive reinforcement. We help them break cycles and we pour love into them, showing them that there’s a better type of love and support out there than they might be used to. We guide them in their goals, introduce ideas and opportunities, and make connections that can lead to success. 

Getting ready for the next step

There is a lot of parenting education that is threaded into the program to assure little ones are off to a great start and continue on a good path – from child supervision needs, attending regular doctor visits, identifying milestones and learning to engage and play with their child.

Housing is one of the biggest needs and the biggest challenges for our residents once they are ready to leave us. Remember, these are young, single women with a child or children, who are struggling already and not at a point in life to afford local market rate rent prices. Through great partners and connections in the community, we are able to help get them into and stay in safe apartments they can afford. 

Employment and education other priority areas for those who live here. The central location of Evelyn’s House allows the young women to gain employment at many locations – McDonald’s, The Grand, Stewart’s, Price Chopper, Bagel Grove and we’re even on the bus route so they can get to Consumer Square easily. Having local community colleges and universities very close helps out greatly as well and staff helps with anything needed from applications to scheduling assistance.

We have fun, too!

Self care and parent/child bonding are so important and are taught and practiced through recreational outings of all kinds! Getting out into the community to try new things and places also teaches young parents how to navigate spaces and introduces them to new experiences. Getting outside is also mood-boosting and great for your mental health! From bigger trips to Water Safari or the Wild Center, down to local outings at the city pools and parks, or simply walks around the neighborhood to get ice cream, recreation is key!

What are the outcomes?

Young women become more confident, educated, engaged parents. They are informed tenants with knowledge of proper household management. They have started and can continue good daily routines in their lives. Budgeting, paying bills and prioritizing spending stick with them. They are more marketable employees, having been taught the importance of showing up, writing good resumes, understanding their paystubs, taxes and more. They are continuing in their journey and working towards their goals.

These are ALLl of the things we hope our own teenagers and young adult children will become as they reach the cusp of adulthood. These are the things we teach them. The difference is, the young women who live with us have not had people take those nurturing, guiding roles in their lives. We are those people. They choose us.

“Everything we do is to prepare them to be successful on their own”

Beyond Evelyn’s House

The young women have the support and people at Evelyn’s House with them even beyond their stay. They continuously come back to visit and stay in touch, sharing milestones, photos of their little ones and successes that they are achieving. We remain “safe people” for them as they navigate their lives and our staff remains cheerleaders, aunties, grandmas, mentors and friends for so many young women.