The Doheny Foundation is proud to have funded Elizabeth House for 25 years! Through shelter and lifelong connection, Elizabeth House empowers pregnant and parenting women in need. Located in Pasadena, Elizabeth House has been dedicated for the past three decades to women and their children, providing them with the resources and support they need to break the cycles of trauma and homelessness and build brighter futures. Elizabeth House is the only organization in the San Gabriel Valley that welcomes pregnant mothers and their children under the age of 5 into the residential program. The organization has served over 1,000 women, children, and grandchildren in its 30-year history.
Yessenia (Elizabeth House resident) went into labor at the end of January, just as the community around her faced the destructive aftermath of unprecedented wildfires. Elizabeth House ensured that she had a safe space to labor, away from the smoke and fear that filled the outside world. Her Elizabeth House doula’s role was to provide stability in a moment of upheaval—to be a steady presence as she faced the added weight of bringing new life into the world amidst such chaos. During her labor, her doula offered grounding techniques, controlled breathing, and emotional reassurance to help her feel connected and secure. From the hotel, to the hospital, to meeting the eyes of her newborn baby, Yessenia was able to experience a birth space of love, warmth, and security. While the fires changed the course of her birth story, they did not define it. Instead, it became a story of resilience, strength, and the unwavering support that Elizabeth House provides.