A Texas maternity home has expanded into a social services program spanning four blocks, offering classes, healthcare, housing, and resources for young mothers in the area.

Viola’s House was founded 10 years ago by Thana Hickman-Simmons, who herself experienced a teenage pregnancy, according to Pregnancy Help News. She named the home after her godmother, who helped her during her teenage pregnancy.

“She represents the village you need when raising children,” Hickman-Simmons said. “I really believe in the importance of the village.”

Hickman-Simmons said that the maternity home “started in one apartment with two beds,” but a local church donated a house and some apartments.

Now, their parenting classes serve 600 women a day. In 2023, they served 7,400 people through their various resources, and their center “saw more than 98,000 visits from women and families in need.”

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Hickman-Simmons explained how the program benefits mothers. “We have a baby benefit boutique and through that boutique we educate over 600 mothers a day that are either pregnant or parenting children under the age of three.”

She added, “These mothers take pregnancy and parenting classes daily, and they earn baby bucks to shop in our beautiful, upscale thrift store. Our incentive program is one of the best which is how we retain our clients so well in the community.”

The maternity center also provides trauma-informed care for the mothers, since many of women who benefit from pregnancy help organizations (PHO) have experienced trauma, according to Pregnancy Help News.

Dr. Esteria Tatum Miller, who is the in-house counselor at Viola’s House, said, “I recognize the profound impact that trauma can have on individuals, particularly those in vulnerable situations.”

She added, “Understanding trauma and its effects is crucial for providing compassionate and effective support to our clients, ensuring that we create a safe and healing environment for everyone.”

She also said that trauma-informed care “fosters a deeper understanding of our clients’ experiences, promoting empathy and awareness. This training also helps us develop strategies to minimize triggers and support resilience, ultimately enhancing our overall approach to care.”

LifeNews Note: Grace Porto writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.