Sunlight of Collier County

Sunlight home is a long-term homeless shelter for "at risk" pregnant mothers and their children, and pregnant minor children who are abandoned victims of poverty, trafficking, abuse and neglect. This faction of our community is very underserved. Other homeless shelters cannot provide long-term housing due to pregnancy and underage minor status and refer them to us. For 29 years Sunlight home has been the only long-term shelter in Collier County providing this lifesaving critical service for vulnerable families and children in need. During that time, we have been able to save over 2,000 mothers and their children. Because it is a "long-term" shelter, the residents stay for extended periods of time, both before and after giving birth. Sunlight home serves 20-25 pregnant women, teens and children in the course of a 12-month period. The mothers and their children live in a safe loving home environment where they are protected and cared for by our 24-7 staff. Women and minor children that give birth while at Sunlight home can live at the home with their children until they are able to leave. Our "rays of hope" maternity program consists of housing, food and clothing, education, health and dental care, mental health counseling, spiritual development, nutrition and hygiene, parenting classes, job training and life coping skills and outreach services. We offer adoption as a loving alternative to parenting. The children attend school, receive tutoring and participate in recreational activities. Our teen residents also study online courses in continuing education for their ged and college level prep courses, and sat exam preparation. After giving birth, the mothers and their children can move into our "transition to hope" transitional housing program for a period of up to 2 years where they can continue working toward their goals to become independent, productive and financially responsible. In 2016 construction was completed for the addition to our facility which houses our new transition to hope program. We assist the mothers in developing a plan for their children, obtaining jobs, continuing their education and job training so they are able to provide for their family independent of government assistance. This program is made available to our mothers who choose an adoption plan, as it is impossible for these new mothers to obtain transitional housing after giving birth without a child and consequently have nowhere to go. We help the underage teen mothers to either reconcile with their family, or if that is not possible, locate another family for them, or provide access to legal representation if it is needed. We do not receive any state or federal funding. All funds for our programs are provided entirely by private donors and private foundations. Our major goal is to protect the most vulnerable "at risk" children in crisis, and empower the mothers to break the cycle of poverty and abuse they have been living in. The desired outcome is a new path of prosperity and wellbeing, and financial responsibility with the ability to assimilate back into society.