Arbor House has been in Gainesville since 1983. For seventeen of those years we provided short-term housing and support services for homeless, pregnant women. Over 500 women were cared for in the first few years. In 1995 the board established a vision of opening a second home. This home would provide long-term care after babies are born for each single mother to complete an accredited degree or job training that would earn a living wage. We have now served over 1500 women and children.

On May 1 of 2004 that home opened. We call it Mom’s Place. This $327,000 opportunity came through the DCF Homeless Housing Assistance Grant through the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry. Our home has eight units for mother and child and its own communal kitchen and living area. We are very proud of the residents who are currently in our programs. Their schedules are extraordinarily tight with part or full-time school, part-time work and a child to care for. They represent women and children who are breaking the cycle of poverty and dependency and who are moving toward being contributing members of society. Mothers have graduated from Santa Fe College with certificates in Legal Assisting, Radiography and Nursing. We have applications in progress for more mothers interested in this program.

We continue our original program, New Beginnings, with four beds available. This program may be entered up to the seventh month of pregnancy with the same combined focus of education, independence and faith as Mom’s Place.
Since moving to this 85 year-old home in 2001, we have replaced the plumbing, added internet access for every resident, an indoor sprinkler/alarm system, a new HVAC system, a playground and fencing, through the DCF Challenge Grant and the HOME grant, City of Gainesville. Most recently, rewiring was done through the SHIP special needs (administered by Alachua County) and the HOME grant. Other partners in these specific projects are Nationwide, Publix, RBC Banc and the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville.

Arbor House also provides the Adoption Option for mothers not ready to parent.

In the fall of 2006 Sue Beauchamp came to us to begin our Cottage Industry employment. This new entrepreneurship endeavor has enabled women to work in the New Beginnings home. Thanks to the Maren Foundation, child care is provided with a ten-per-cent contribution from each mother. As doors open, we also hope to open another Mom’s Place in another area of Alachua County. Our business plan for Cottage Industries is to relocate in a larger facility and add other entrepreneurial endeavors. We are growing!! In 2000, our operating budget was $32,000. Our projected budget for 2009 is $334,000.

Organizational Structure

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors that is made up of citizens who volunteer their time to help oversee the fiscal health, community visibility, and general well-being of the agency. The newly formed, Friends of Arbor House is the fund raising arm of the board.