GASTONIA, N.C.,None — The first permanent shelter for pregnant, homeless teenagers in North Carolina is set to open in January.
The new With Friends Maternity Home in Gastonia will house six young mothers and up to nine babies and children two years and under for up to 24 months. The 4,910 square-foot center was officially dedicated by With Friends, a private, non-profit organization providing shelter and counseling to youth in crisis, on Thursday.
"Typically, when girls are homeless and pregnant in their teens, they go from home to home, relative to relative, friend to friend, just to find a bed to stay for the night," Executive Director Caroline Looney said.
Looney, who heads the With Friends youth shelter, said more than 500 girls, ages 15-19, in Gaston County become pregnant each year. When the pregnant mother is in dire need of shelter, the baby is in dire need of help, she said.
"(At the maternity home, girls will have) the opportunity to get educated, get parenting skills, find a job (and) move into self-sufficiency within a two-year period of time," Looney said.
Every teen mom who is assisted by With Friends will be required to learn parenting skills and family planning. In addition, the young mothers must complete their education and attend job-training classes.
The shelter features private rooms, a playground, a computer lab and offices for social workers and counselors. The project, which cost about $1 million to get up and running, was funded through private donations.
There will be a selection process to decide which mothers move in.