Lifeline Family Center broke ground Thursday, July 18, for one-of-a-kind housing for single women with children graduating from their program.

More than 75 people attended the ground-breaking, including State Rep. Dane Eagle, Cape Coral Mayor Joe Coviello, Cape Coral Council members Jennifer Nelson and Marilyn Stout along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.

The new facility will be built adjacent to Lifeline Family Center at 907 S.E. 5^th Ave. in Cape Coral and is the first affordable rental housing offered by Lifeline Family Center.

“This is the next step in helping our moms and their children toward independence,” said Lifeline Family Center CEO Kathy Miller.  “Accessible and affordable housing in a safe neighborhood is difficult to come by in Lee County.  As a single parent raising young children, it is almost impossible.  The availability for community housing programs is often years of waiting on a list.”

Lifeline Family Center provides a home on its campus for young women in crisis pregnancies for up to two years.  During that time, they learn skills to become self-supporting through education, job training, parenting classes, professional counseling, and spiritual guidance. 

It is the only residential program in Lee County for homeless young women in crisis pregnancies who are not part of the foster care program.

With the escalating cost of rental housing, Lifeline Family Center officials saw a severe need for affordable housing for graduates of their Phase I program and began a fund-raising campaign that now has topped $400,000.00. An additional $236,000.00 is needed to complete the project debt-free.

The new housing will provide two-bedroom apartments for their graduates so that they can continue to grow in their career path and utilize the on-campus daycare facility while they work.  “Rents” will be just what it costs for insurance and to maintain the facility, about $500 a month, including water. 

Within the two-year housing agreement, each mom will be encouraged to cultivate a relationship with Habitat for Humanity, a collaboration that will develop into homeownership for her family.

“This is how we can break the cycle of welfare and government dependency.  A successful, financially stable woman raising her family in a safe and loving environment creates a thriving community,” Miller said.

Since the non-profit organization was founded by Miller in 1996, 178 women and 117 babies have found a home at Lifeline Family Center. 

In the current residential program, Lifeline Family Center serves up to 12 young women, ages 16 to 25, and up to 24 babies at a time. In the Outreach Ministry program, more than 6,000 women have received assistance with material needs, adoption counseling and resource referrals. The non-profit also operates a 24/7 Pregnancy Helpline, provides free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds by appointment, and does outreach to all areas of Lee County, including all college campuses.