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The Maternity Home Mission
Housing for today. Hope for tomorrow.
The Heartbeat House
Heartbeat of Toledo is launching The Heartbeat House, a maternity home created to provide safe, stable housing for pregnant women and new mothers with their infants. This small, residential program prioritizes safety, accountability, and long-term stability while maintaining a calm, dignified living environment.
Built with sustainability in mind, The Heartbeat House combines clear house expectations, consistent support, and responsible financial planning. This structure allows mothers to focus on healthy pregnancies, early parenting, and building a more secure future, guided by decades of local experience and proven maternity home models nationwide.
Show your support by making a donation using the form below, or click here for sponsorship information.
Proven Impact from Established Maternity Home Models
$28,750
Estimated annual societal savings per mother served, reflecting reduced homelessness, improved pregnancy outcomes, and decreased reliance on public assistance.
$74,559
Estimated annual societal savings per infant, reflecting avoided medical and long-term costs associated with premature birth and early instability.
3:1 ROI
State-reported outcomes from Missouri’s maternity home program show approximately $3 in public benefit for every $1 invested, demonstrating strong fiscal and social impact.
A Safe Haven for Strong Futures
Why This Approach Works
These figures are drawn from long-standing maternity home programs and state-level evaluations, and their relevance is especially clear here in Toledo. Many women facing unexpected pregnancies experience housing instability or the risk of homelessness after childbirth, a reality that can heavily influence pregnancy decisions. In some cases, the lack of a safe place to live becomes the deciding factor, not a lack of desire to parent.
The Heartbeat House addresses this gap directly. By providing stable housing during the postpartum period, the home removes a major barrier that prevents women from choosing to carry and parent their children. This support ensures decisions are made freely, without fear of homelessness or lack of resources.
With housing secured, mothers are able to focus on recovery, bonding with their babies, and establishing healthy routines.
Access to follow-up care and community resources throughout the Toledo area becomes more attainable, supporting healthier outcomes for both mothers and infants.
Serving a limited number of mothers allows The Heartbeat House to operate as a true residential home rather than an institutional setting. Clear expectations, consistent staff presence, and practical guidance create a stable environment where mothers can build routines, regain independence, and establish reliability for themselves and their children.
The Heartbeat House is not simply a place to stay. It is a setting intentionally created to help Toledo mothers move forward after childbirth with stability, dignity, and a stronger foundation for the future.
Help Us Take the Next Step
Your Support Makes This Possible
The Heartbeat House is being developed thoughtfully, with transparency and a clear plan for long-term sustainability.
Donor support helps Heartbeat of Toledo move from preparation to implementation by funding essential components of the home, including staffing, daily household operations, safety systems, and ongoing maintenance.
As this project progresses, strong community partnerships will be key to its success. Both one-time and recurring gifts directly support real, tangible needs and help ensure the home opens responsibly and operates with stability. If you feel called to become more involved through sponsorship, partnership, or simply learning more, we welcome that conversation.
Ready to give? You can make a gift today through our secure online donation form. Our giving platform is free for nonprofits to use.
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Every contribution supports the launch and long-term success of The Heartbeat House, helping create a safe, stable environment where mothers and their babies can begin their next chapter with confidence.
Reach out to Joe Restivo at jrestivo@heartbeatoftoledo.org
or Gina Bonino at gbonino@heartbeatoftoledo.org.
Tax Benefits of Giving
Contributions to The Heartbeat House are charitable donations to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and are eligible for federal income tax deduction to the extent permitted by law.
Donors will receive written acknowledgment for tax reporting and recordkeeping purposes. Gifts may be made as one-time contributions or structured as recurring support, which some donors find helpful for annual tax planning, charitable budgeting, and aligning giving with year-end financial goals.
As with all charitable contributions, donors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisor to determine how a gift may best fit into their overall financial plan.
Watch Recent Success Stories
Looking Ahead
In Missouri, donors to qualified maternity homes may receive a state income tax credit equal to 70% of their charitable contribution, directly reducing their state tax liability.
In practical terms, a contribution of approximately $10,700 can result in a $7,500 state tax credit!
Inspired by the success of this model, similar legislation is being explored in Ohio to provide state-level tax incentives for donations to maternity homes and pregnancy resource centers.
We are actively monitoring and supporting these efforts, with the goal of positioning The Heartbeat House to participate if such legislation is enacted, further increasing the long-term financial impact of donor support.
