The Home helps bring young moms—and their new arrivals—a hopeful path forward.
During a recent visit with Program Director Autumn Nall, Bayley sits in the quiet of her own apartment, sharing ultrasound photos of her baby boy. She lights up as she gazes at his tiny features. “I can already tell he has my nose,” she laughs. Bayley is 34 weeks pregnant and has just come from a doctor’s appointment. She happily reports that her baby passed every test and is measuring as they had hoped. “He is 4.6 pounds,” says Bayley. “He didn’t grow as he should have at first, but he’s on track now, so that’s good.” Just a few months earlier, Bayley’s living situation grew increasingly volatile. Some nights, the homeowner told her not to come home, warning that violence in the house made it unsafe. Without a car and wary of the stress and potential threats that can come with adult shelters, she was often left scrambling to find another place to sleep.
Bayley resolved to put her baby’s well being—and her own—first. So, she sought out our Hillsborough Village program, which provides housing support and life coaching to young adults in New Hampshire who have aged out of the foster care system and have nowhere to turn. “I didn’t want to go into a shelter,” she explains. “I have been in and out of placements my whole life. I’m tired of living that way. That’s why I chose to do The Home for Little Wanderers until I have my baby.”
Bayley knew her time at Hillsborough Village would be temporary (the program isn’t designed for young children), but she wants to do all she can to ensure the health of her unborn son. In the weeks leading up to his birth, our program provides a safe haven where she can rest, plan and prepare.
Breaking a Cycle that Spans Generations
- One in four young women in foster care become mothers by age 19.
- Up to 22% of children born to former foster youth will spend part of their childhood in out-of-home care.
- The Home’s programs for young parents helps families build stronger foundations and futures, together.
Without parents to lean on, Bayley is navigating much of this transition on her own. But, while there aren’t doting grandparents waiting in the wings, she isn’t alone. Autumn and Assistant Program Director Taylor Goncalves— Bayley’s “lifelong mentors,” says Autumn—are helping her tackle her to-do list and take the next steps toward stability.
As Bayley tucks away her photos, Autumn reminds her to complete the housing voucher application she sent over. Together, they are working on finding a home for mother and son, and have their sights set on an apartment in Keene. The unit would be a short walk to the park, schools, and the shops and job opportunities in the town center, and there are plenty of sidewalks for her stroller.
Now that her daily challenges aren’t all-consuming, Bayley can almost picture it: a place where she and her boy can build a life together, finding both a warm welcome and a fresh start.
