Our Mission
Almost Home inspires teenage moms to create better lives for themselves and their children.
Our History
Almost Home was founded in 1993 by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary. The Sisters became aware of the absence of accessible housing and support services for homeless teenage moms in the Saint Louis area and took action to address this need. The original Almost Home facility housed 6 teenage moms and their children and was operated solely by the Sisters and several community volunteers. Since its founding, Almost Home has expanded to its current facility, which houses up to 15 mothers and 25 of their children at any one time.
In 2006, Almost Home became licensed to house pregnant and parenting teens in state custody who could not find foster living arrangements with their children. In 2008, Almost Home became a member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis and in 2011, the organization became a key partner in the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, receiving fee for service income for providing shelter and services to our clients who formerly resided in St. Louis County.
Though Almost Home has experienced a great deal of change and expansion since its founding, the mission has remained the same: to inspire teenage moms to create better lives for themselves and their children.
If you or someone you know are in need of services please see our In Need of Help page
Time Line:
- 1993 Franciscan Sisters of Mary launch Almost Home in 1993 with the capacity to help 6 young families at a time.
- 1996 Expansion allowed for up to 15 mothers and 25 of their children to be served through transitional housing, support services, and programming.
- 1999 Construction completed on a custom facility with 15 individual bedrooms and family style communal areas (bathroom, living room, fitness room, children’s play room, kitchen, classroom and dining area). This is Almost Home’s current facility.
- 2004 Construction completed on the Almost Home apartment building, this building serves as a subsidized housing option for young mothers in the community and alumni of the Transitional Living Program.
- 2006 Almost Home becomes licensed to serve teen mothers in state custody who could not find foster homes together with their children.
- 2008 Almost Home becomes a United Way member agency.
- 2010 Almost Home develops the Alumni Support Program, which provides 8 years of follow-up services to teenage moms who participated in the Transitional Living Program.
- 2013 Almost Home celebrates 20 years of serving homeless teenage moms and their children.
- November 2014 Almost Home launches it’s signature event, the Celebration of Grit to honor individuals in the community who display the grit and tenacity that our teen moms must posess in order to succeed.
