Southern Oregon nonprofit remodels units for new maternity home

Medford, Ore. — A Southern Oregon nonprofit organization is remaking a four-bedroom complex that will house four expecting mothers who are struggling with housing in the Rogue Valley and are in need of supportive services throughout their pregnancies.

The founder of Helping Hands International, Inc., Ron Ashpole, explained that the nonprofit chose to take on the much-needed housing as its major community project for the year.

“It provides an opportunity for those women who feel lost, they feel like they have been abandoned like they have no resources to keep their baby, but they really want to,” Ashpole said. “For them, it's life-changing really, for those women who have no hope and now have hope.”

The new housing will meet a crucial need that was not readily available to some expecting mothers prior. Executive Director of the Pregnancy Center in Medford, Beth Sheets, said the new maternity home will be a life-changer for women in need of support throughout their pregnancies.

"It’s a sense of safety, it’s a sense of security, it’s a sense of being whole as a human and if we could provide that most basic element housing, now a woman can focus on her skills as a parent, her skills as a person in our community, her skills as a worker,” Sheets said.

Once the four-bedroom complex is complete, it will be able to house four mothers who will be a part of an 18-month program. Sheets said throughout the program, the women will learn a variety of life skills, attend parenting classes, and be provided with other resources they may need.

Sheets noted that the nonprofit is currently providing baby formula to those in need because as of right now, mother’s across the nation have been dealing with a formula shortage. She said anyone in need of baby formula, can contact the nonprofit directly which has partnered with ACCESS to provide the food.

The Pregnancy Center’s phone number is 541-772-1921 and is located at 2019 Aero Way, Suite 103 in Medford.

The nonprofit is always open to new volunteers who are eager to be a helping hand to others.

The new maternity home in Medford is expected to be completed by August.