Mother's Refuge—Hope for Homeless mothers

by Steve Sanborn

Just a block or two off of Highway 40 in Independence sits a house that looks like the others around it on a street that is average enough. With a white exterior, a fence around the backyard and couple cars in the driveway, there isn't much to notice. What's inside though, is like nothing else in Kansas City.

This house is a refuge where in August of 2001, Tamara, 19 years old and homeless at the time, showed up one day to spend 14 months to learn to care for and raise her newborn son David. From Tamara's mouth to Kansas City's ears, this is the one place in the metro area and beyond where a homeless mother and child can go for a whole lot more than a place to sleep. It's called Mother's Refuge and Tamara hopes the home and family she found there will continue to thrive for the sake of others like her.

Founded in 1987, Mother's Refuge is one of few Missouri residential programs licensed to care for homeless pregnant or parenting teenagers. Services include medical care, nutritional food, clothing, job training, childbirth/parenting classes, child development, life skills and more. High emphasis is placed on completing education and college or obtaining an adequate job for the transition into adult living and self-sufficiency.

Each year in the U.S., one million teens become pregnant and homelessness among females is on the rise. U.S. Department of Health statistics show that an adolescent becomes pregnant every 26 seconds and gives birth every 56 seconds. Single mothers with young children comprise one of the fastest-growing groups of the homeless in Kansas City.

During its 17-year history, Mother's Refuge has given more than 700 mothers and children a life saving program that can last up to 2 years with a full year of after care. For Tamara, a foster child with the Department of Family Services from age two, Mother's Refuge provided enough training to make her know she didn't want to repeat the mistakes made by the mother she could not remember. Today, Tamara is rearing her two-year-old son, attends Penn Valley Community College, works at Royal's Stadium and starts a new state job soon teaching independent living classes to foster youth.

"We're very proud of the girls we help," says Executive Director, Robert Zornes. "We see in so many cases how well the program can work. These girls have courage or they would not decide to come. We have a growing family here and many success stories."

Zornes has been working closely with the board of directors for the last three years to bring Mother's Refuge to a new level financially. This includes better promotion of a significant 50% tax credit Mother's Refuge offers via a bill sponsored by former state senator, Bill Kenney, and passed by the Missouri Senate in 1997.

A new fundraiser called "A Taste of Compassion" is sponsored by Bill and Sandra Kenney during the Fall Parade of Homes and attracts sponsorships from local businesses. This year's event is on Sunday, October 3 at the Monarch View subdivision in Lee's Summit, owned by the Kenney's. Guests will tour six elegantly decorated homes and enjoy food and wine from Kansas City's top restaurants and Missouri wineries. Metro-area businesses are encouraged to sponsor the event.

"Donors receive the tax credit in addition to normal state and federal deductions creating close to a 90% write off at year's end," said Zornes.

Thoroughbred Ford recently committed to giving a 15-passenger van to Mother's Refuge citing that the tax credit made it very easy to do.

These fund raising changes are quite important as once reliable government grants no longer exist.

"I don't know where I would be without Mother's Refuge," says Tamara today. "People like Robert Zornes and Sandra Kenney took a genuine interest in me and the other girls. That's what I remember most. You wouldn't think you would see much of an executive director, but Robert ate meals with us, talked with us often and really got to know us. Sandra was very sweet to us and made things a lot of fun. They all made such a big difference."

You may contact Mother's Refuge at 816.353.8070 or 11004 E. 40 Hwy., Suite 132, Independence, MO 64055.