A Cleveland, Tennessee, maternity home is expecting to receive an even greater increase in demand for its services than the 200% jump in calls the organization experienced in the past year, according to Suzanne Burns, the organization’s founder and executive director.
Foundation House Ministries is a nonprofit organization and maternity home that serves women with newborns and pregnant women who are unemployed, homeless or struggling with addiction.
With Tennessee law banning abortion after six weeks in most cases following the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade, the need for the organization’s services may grow as women’s options shrink.
“The vast majority of our moms that call us don’t want an abortion in the first place,” Burns said in an interview. “They want their lives to look differently. So that’s what we do; we help them craft something different.”
Foundation House offers a residential program as well as parenting classes, basic social services and baby supplies such as formula, toys, clothing and bottles free of cost.