Struggling moms get a helping hand
Social impact bond funds program that aims to provide support, safe homes
Shelby LaRose and Cree Crain know what a helping hand is worth.
“Without the support and love of EGADZ I wouldn’t be where I am now,” LaRose said at the grand opening of the EGADZ Sweet Dreams Early Learning Centre. She and Crain live in the home attached to the centre, which aims to provide a safe space for mothers to create better lives for themselves and their children.
The learning centre will provide 18 new childcare spaces as well as a safe home with parental supports, and educational and employment opportunities.
“It’s a pretty big deal when you come from a pretty imperfect background,” said Crain, whose son is 13 months old. “It provides a place to call home, meet new moms, get together and support each other.”
That peer support is what really makes the home special, she added.
“Maybe one mom has a situation she is going through that I have already went through, like addictions or homelessness; I will be there to support her as best I can.”
LaRose echoed her thoughts. “It gives me the structure I didn’t have when I was younger. Having the roommates and seeing everyone else doing so good and having a positive impact on each other, that energy in the house motivates you to be positive and makes you want to change,” she said.
The program is funded through a social impact bond — a financial investment by individuals or private companies to improve the community without any guaranteed return on the investment.
This one, which is thought to be among the first in Canada, is made possible by local real estate developers and philanthropists Wally and Colleen Mah, with help from EGADZ and Connexus Credit Union.
Education Minister Don Morgan, who worked with EGADZ on the project, called the learning centre and the bond that funded it a “huge success.”
Morgan noted it has already supported and housed 38 mothers and 48 children since it was put in place in June 2014.
Spots in the daycare centre and the home are based on each mother’s desire to seek out a better life, said EGADZ executive director Don Meikle.
It doesn’t matter if the mothers come from a shelter, an abusive home or the streets — as long as they want to make that positive change, EGADZ will be there to help, Meikle added.
“We can support them, but when we are done supporting them they are back out on their own, so we have to provide opportunities or we won’t make a difference. It’s not going to change until we change how we treat these kids.”