By Pat Caveye, Reporter
OMAHA, Neb.-The old Saint Pat’s convent on 15th and Martha Street has been transformed into a life-saving service to women living in crisis situations.
Since its founding in 2005, Bethlehem House has been changing the lives of expecting mothers living in crisis situations. Current resident Nelly Martinez was unfortunately in that situation after finding out she was pregnant while incarcerated.
“When I was due to be released, I was pregnant and homeless,” Martinez said. “So, I didn’t have anywhere to go, and didn’t want to be in the streets being pregnant.”
Knowing this, Nelly applied and became a resident of Bethlehem House in May of this year. While here, she and the other residents are required to take classes like financial literacy and health and wellness. Executive director TJ Ernst says that even though they are involved within the house, it’s a chance for them to stop and breathe.”
“So many of our women who come to us have been operating for years in a state of crisis. And when they get here, they recognize that they have a roof over their head. They have running water. They have food,” Ernst said. “They can kind of breathe and relax a little bit, and focus on themselves, and focus on that baby they’re about to have.”
One thing Bethlehem House does is help residents find housing after graduation. They currently have three locations graduates can move into, with a fourth location potentially becoming available early next year.
That location is a new apartment complex just a few feet away from the Bethlehem House. The new building offers 15 three-bed, two-bath apartments the girls can move into.
Ernst stated that they broke ground for the development in March of this year and are nearing the end of its completion.
“We are hoping to get and pass a final inspection by mid-November,” Ernst said.
Even though Martinez won’t be moving into these new apartments, she said she was grateful Bethlehem House allowing her to become whole again.
“I had no identity, no ID, no information about me,” Martinez said. “So, they have helped me become me again on paper and as a person as well.”
Bethlehem House has helped 600 families since opening in 2005. Ernst said the apartments should be ready to move into in Jan. of 2022.
