Homeless pregnant mothers given stability, guidance in North Texas nonprofit

Pregnancy can be as scary as it is exciting. Morning nausea, constant fatigue, a nagging fear of complications — and for some mothers, lack of housing.

A mother experiencing homelessness may worry about how to care for her baby, or if Child Protective Services will let them keep the child, said Meredith McPhail, director of family stability services with the Catholic Charities of Dallas. But mothers who find themselves in this position can find a safe space in Collin County with Mater Maria’s maternity homes.

“It’s just a nurturing, caring, compassionate environment that you wouldn’t find in a regular shelter,” said Jari Mema, chief services officer for Catholic Charities of Dallas. “These homes are meant to be family oriented.”

Mater Maria, a nonprofit operated by the Catholic Charities of Dallas, provides housing and guidance for mothers experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. The two maternity homes run by the organization in Plano can house up to 10 mothers.

The homes are located across the street from each other. The first house is a two-story home with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a kitchen, backyard and a garage-made chapel. The second is a little smaller, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and additional office spaces. In addition to the amenities, the program provides meals, transportation and supplies like children’s car seats and baby and maternity clothing.

Beyond helping meet physical needs, the program prepares the mother to succeed on her own after leaving, Mema said. The living room of each home has been converted into a classroom with chairs where professionals can provide parental education, career coaching and lessons in skills like sewing or digital literacy.

“We really look at the whole person, and not just the physical needs, but also spiritual, emotional,” McPhail said. “We look at it all; it is all important to us.”

The program was founded in Mexico City in 2003 by a Catholic couple, José and Miriam Tejedas.  The couple opened a maternity home in Mexico City named Mater Filius, which means “mother son” in Latin. The home there is still active today. 

Since, the organization eventually extended its reach to North Texas, with the Plano homes and program established by Javier and Marthalicia Burkle about 10 years ago. 

According to Mema, as the Burkles got older they eventually decided to partner with the Catholic Charities of Dallas to continue their work and broaden services. From then, Mater Filius took on the new name, Mater Maria. 

One expansion McPhail is especially proud of is extending their support to first-time mothers right after birth, rather than only pregnant women.

“We saw a need for moms who had just given birth and had very young babies,” McPhail said. “They thought they had it figured out, and then they found themselves three to six months down the road, everything just fell apart.”

This led them to the organization’s current eligibility guidelines: New mothers with infants up to 6 months old can apply for housing there and are able to keep their children and provide for themselves with Mater Maria’s support. 

“We’ve seen some really, really great moms be able to successfully parent and keep their children because they had a home to come to,” McPhail said.

The women “graduate” from the program by finding their own housing and jobs. But staffers say they are always there if the moms need additional guidance. 

“A lot of the moms become friends and continue those relationships past their time at Mater Maria,” McPhail said. “We also want to build community within, so even after they’re gone, they know that they’re always welcome to come back if a new hurdle comes up.”

Mica Magday is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at [email protected]. 

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