BHI is extremely proud to have helped so many young mothers and their children become independent.

Andrea Rivas-Reyes

Posted on September 15, 2014

When I came to Borromeo I was 19 with a barely 2 months old, baby girl. I had yet to graduate high school for more reasons than just being a young mother. Days after moving into the house I registered for school and registered my daughter to daycare. At first old habits were kicking my butt and I would miss school but eventually with the help of Ms. Darlene I started going to school everyday. Then the day of graduation came and I was happy to finally graduate from high school(at the age of 20 btw) and to cross that off my life goals. Without the support from Borromeo I would not have graduated from high school. I learned that with dedication and support I can accomplish my goals and hopefully be an inspiration to my daughter and other young moms. I hope to continue college next fall and one day cross that graduation off my list. I owe a lot to Borromeo Housing Inc specially to Ms Darlene and I hope to one day be a part of this organization from the other end.

Andrea Rivas-Reyes

Congratulations Andrea and Karla!

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Darlene

Two of our young mothers graduated high school in June and began college this month at Northern Virginia Community College.

During her high school graduation ceremony, Andrea gave an emotional and inspiring speech about her experiences of attending high school as a teen parent. She did an amazing job! Andrea is the first person in her family to attend college and she would like to receive her degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Virginia Community College.

Karla graduated as the Class President and an honor student. Karla is the FIRST person in her family to graduate high school! She would like to receive her degree in Business at Northern Virginia Community College.

Both Andrea and Karla plan to attend George Mason University and receive a four year degree after completing their studies at Northern Virginia Community College. We are so proud them! They are incredibly talented young women.

Joanna’s Story

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Borromeo Housing

The following is a letter from Darlene Bakke, Executive Director of Borromeo Housing, Inc.

Dear Friends,

My journey with Borromeo Housing, Inc. (BHI) began more than seven years ago when I volunteered as a “Birthday Angel” with another organization that provided support to BHI through their shelter partner program. As a birthday angel, I was responsible for visiting BHI each month and providing a cake and a gift to any child living in the shelter that had a birthday during that month. I wasn’t familiar with BHI, but I knew it wasn’t a typical shelter. I knew it was an education program for young teen mothers and their children. I was told when you call the coordinator and ask for the children birthday list for that month to include the mothers, because most of them are children themselves and are under the age of eighteen. So, I called the coordinator and sure enough the first birthday I would be celebrating as a volunteer was that of a young mother named Joanna who was turning sixteen. She had moved into the BHI house with her son a month prior to my visit. I was thrilled to buy my first birthday cake and to visit the house for the first time to have a party. The coordinator was very specific about the cake I was to buy. She told me Joanna had requested a yellow cake, with chocolate frosting and she wanted her name written in pink and if possible she would like pink flowers on the cake. I said, “I can do that” and on my way home from work I stopped at the local grocery store and picked up the cake.

I was excited and nervous as I approached the BHI house, not really sure what to expect. When I met Joanna, she was beaming because it was her birthday and she wanted to see the cake. I showed her the cake and she wanted to celebrate immediately. The coordinators said “fine, let’s sing ‘Happy Birthday’” and the party started. All of the mothers and children sang for Joanna; she was thrilled. My nervousness disappeared as I sang with the group, and I noticed that Joanna took her time cutting the cake making sure not to ruin the pink flowers. She cut around her name and told everyone she was putting it in the refrigerator, to save it. At the time, I did think it was a little odd for a sixteen year old girl to be so excited about a birthday cake. But I put it out of mind and enjoyed the cake. It was a wonderful party and I enjoyed meeting the young mothers and their children. I told them I would be back next month to celebrate another birthday.

As I was walking out the door, Joanna stopped me and said, “thank you Ms. Darlene for bringing me my beautiful birthday cake.” I thanked her, for a great time, and then Joanna then looked at me and said, “this was a special day for me, because I have never had my own birthday cake or my own party. I’ll never forget it.”

As I walked out the door and to my car, it suddenly occurred to me that a simple gesture I take for granted—stopping at a grocery store to buy a birthday cake—could be so meaningful to a young mother. Joanna had never had her own birthday cake and I brought her the cake she had probably been dreaming about since she was a little girl. It brought tears to my eyes.

When people ask me what is the most memorable experience you have had with BHI, I always tell them the story of Joanna. Of course, every time I attend a young mother’s graduation – I know it is a life changing moment for that mother and her child. She is receiving the gift of an education that BHI helped her achieve and it is this gift of an education that no one can take from her. It will be with her always and will change her life forever. But the reason I always mention Joanna’s story, is because at that moment my life was changed. I was immediately aware that even though we all live in the same community, we have very different life stories. I can’t assume that every young mother I meet has had the same life experiences that I have had. Now, when I have a conversation with a young mother, I am open and aware of our differences, but I am also humbled by our similarities. We are both mothers, trying to provide a better life for our children, one day at a time. We value the power of an education and know that if we work hard, we will make our lives better. Who knew a birthday cake with pink flowers could be so significant?

For almost 25 years, BHI has changed the lives of many young mothers like Joanna. When the mothers commit to our program, BHI commits to the young mother and her child. In two years, BHI transforms the lives of these young mothers. They learn to parent properly and become self-reliant, educated, empowered women. By committing to the program, they commit to their child by providing a better life and ending the cycle of homelessness.

Please make a point to tell a friend about BHI, or how you can support our mission. We need more voices, more volunteers, and more donors to continue this good work! With your help, we can say “yes” more often to more homeless young mothers. With your continued support, we can make a difference in a child’s life, and change lives one family at a time.

Darlene Bakke

Executive Director

Borromeo Housing, Inc.

Katie’s Story

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Borromeo Housing

Three years ago Katie appeared in my office, her sad blue eyes peering out from an oversized grey hooded sweatshirt. The seventeen-year-old was four months pregnant. Her parents, sick with grief, had decided to let their daughter go. Borromeo Housing, Inc. (BHI) took Katie in as a participant in the residential program. We coached her through her pregnancy, through the imminent breakup with her boyfriend and baby’s father, and through the birth of her daughter, Madelyn. Katie changed her diet, from french fries and marshmallow sandwiches, to balanced meals. She changed her schedule, from late nights in front of MTV, to evening group counseling sessions and early morning classes.

When her daughter came, we showed her how to care for her, how to care for herself because of her, and how to plan for the future of her family. Katie became an honor-roll student. She graduated from high school and entered a training program at a local bank. Within one year, she was the head teller at her branch. She spent her days leading her team at work to achieve its account and customer service goals, and her evenings helping her daughter learn to walk.

Katie’s parents saw her grow and succeed at BHI. With the help of our on-staff counselor, they reunited with their daughter and began celebrating birthdays and holidays as a family.

At the end of Katie’s time with us, she was able to retain her own apartment near her workplace, and she was economically self-sufficient, independent of TANF or any other government subsidy. Katie remains in touch with BHI staff. She has become a spokesperson for our program, and a mentor for one of our residents. She has received several promotions at work and plans to return to school in the Fall to earn her degree in accounting.

We care for many “Katies” here at BHI. Many young women find themselves pregnant, with limited education, without housing options, and wishing for the opportunity to parent in a safe, supervised environment. BHI shepherds them into parenthood and womanhood, and into the responsibilities of raising a child and supporting a family. Through BHI two-year program of parenting and life-skills training, counseling, education and job training, we inspire goodness and greatness in two generations of at-risk youth: mother and child.