Maggies Place Inc

Maggie's Place provides for the immediate physical and emotional needs of the mothers including shelter, food, clothing, and a supportive community.  In addition, Maggie's Place connects the mothers to the appropriate agencies and resources including prenatal care, health insurance, low-cost housing, and education programs.

Women can join the Maggie's Place community at any point in their pregnancy and stay until the child is at least six months old.  Often in difficult and complicated situations, the backgrounds of the mothers might include previous drug use, rape, abusive relationships, poor understanding of self-worth, no employment experience, limited education, bad relationships with family members, poor support networks, or mental illness.

Women that are parenting or placing their child with an adoptive family are welcome. Women must be at least 18 years old and unfortunately, we are not able to assist women with other dependent children in their care.  Women in the early stages of recovery from addictions or in physical danger are more appropriately served by other community agencies.

There’s no better way to tell our story, than in the words of a mom whose life was transformed as a result of her stay at Maggie’s Place. Rosemary’s story is below- she lived at The Michael House, in Glendale, AZ in 2008 & 2009.

“Life before Maggie's Place was, in a word, hopeless. My husband Jason and I met in a homeless shelter in Phoenix at the end of 2007. Miraculously, we stayed sober together, found full time jobs, and got an apartment. But we were a paycheck away from homelessness by the time I was 8 months pregnant with our daughter. My mom knew someone who worked for Maggie's Place, and she suggested we call. The idea of raising my daughter in what I assumed would be just another unsanitary shelter was revolting. I was shocked when I saw the clean and inviting Michael House on the evening of September 28th, 2008. It was a home. The staff members were all about my age - in college or recently graduated - and they were friendly and welcoming. The other moms were of various ages and backgrounds, but equally hospitable.

During my first night at the Michael House, one of the moms (who is still my friend today) made the most delicious chicken corn chowder. I hadn't had a healthy meal in months. My bedroom was set up with a crib, a changing table, and beautiful, pink baby blankets. It felt so wonderful to be with so many kind people in this home-like environment. The fear of having my first child under such unfortunate circumstances started to melt away. All these moms were in a similar situation, and I didn't feel so alone anymore. I never once felt judged or condemned by anyone in the house. Everyone involved with Maggie's Place, moms and staff alike, celebrated our new little lives no matter how they came to be.

My daughter, Teagan Jade, was born two weeks early via emergency C-section. She weighed only 4 lbs 4 oz ; she was very healthy but so small! Jen, my Maggie’s Place staff contact person, came to visit me in the hospital before Teagan was born, waited outside during the surgery, and came to visit multiple times afterwards. Her concern genuinely surprised me because I had just recently arrived at the house and was still a total stranger.

When I got home to The Michael House after a week in the hospital, EVERYONE wanted to hold the really tiny baby! Teagan was adorable, and I was so proud. The moms and staff gladly helped me with everything from babysitting to changing diapers. I felt like my daughter was a blessing, not a burden. I learned how to manage my time, make sure Teagan's needs were met, take care of myself both physically and emotionally, and care for others by returning favors and completing chores around the house. Maggie's Place gave me all the tools I needed to succeed in life and in motherhood.

I enrolled in college when Teagan was three months old. There is no way would I have been able to if I had not been living at The Michael House. There, I had all the resources and support that I needed to excel in school again. When it was time for me to leave, my husband Jason had finally gotten a promotion and a raise at work. We moved into our new house together in June of 2009. I graduated with a 3.4 GPA and an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology in January of 2011. Within six months I had a part-time job in my field, a reliable babysitter that my girls loved, and my Maggie's Place friends' continued love and support through the Alumnae Moms programs. Maggie's Place has been a godsend for my little family. I hope my daughters grow up to be as compassionate as the Maggie’s Place staff, and as courageous as the Maggie’s Place moms.”