GOOD COUNSEL INC

OUTREACH: INTAKE STAFF RECEIVED 3,402 CALLS IN 2024 (A 22% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR) THROUGH ITS 24/7 HOTLINE. GOOD COUNSEL'S 24/7 HOTLINE IS A VITAL LIFELINE FOR WOMEN IN CRISIS. IT PROVIDES IMMEDIATE, COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT TO MOTHERS WHO MAY BE HOMELESS, FRIGHTENED, OR UNSURE OF WHERE TO TURN. MANY OF THE WOMEN WHO CALL HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO AND ARE FACING LIFE-ALTERING DECISIONS ALONE. THE HOTLINE ENSURES THAT NO CALL FOR HELP GOES UNANSWERED - DAY OR NIGHT. THIS CONSTANT AVAILABILITY ALLOWS GOOD COUNSEL TO OFFER NOT JUST EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, BUT ALSO PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING A SAFE PLACE TO STAY, ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, AND GUIDANCE TOWARD A LIFE-AFFIRMING FUTURE FOR BOTH MOTHER AND CHILD. FOR MANY WOMEN, THE FIRST STEP TOWARD HOPE AND HEALING BEGINS WITH A PHONE CALL. LAST YEAR, WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WASN'T HOMELESS-YET- BUT WAS ON THE BRINK. A DIFFICULT PREGNANCY HAD CAUSED HER TO LOSE HER JOB, AND ALTHOUGH SHE HAD RECENTLY SECURED A POSITION AS A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT, SHE WAS ALREADY A MONTH BEHIND ON HER RENT AND FACING EVICTION. SABRINA, OUR INTAKE COORDINATOR, IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO VERIFY HER SITUATION. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SUPPORTERS, GOOD COUNSEL WAS ABLE TO PAY BOTH THE OVERDUE RENT AND THE CURRENT MONTH, ALLOWING HER TO STAY IN HER HOME. SHE WAS OVERWHELMED WITH RELIEF-AND ABLE TO START HER NEW JOB WITHOUT THE FEAR OF LOSING HER HOUSING. WE ALSO RECEIVED 1011 EMAILS REQUESTING ASSISTANCE, A 53% INCREASE WHEN COMPARED TO 2023. OUR CRISIS PREGNANCY WEBSITE RECEIVED OVER 47,900 VISITS, MARKING AN IMPRESSIVE UPTICK OF NEARLY 40% COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE PROVIDES RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

HOUSING: IN 2024, GOOD COUNSEL PROVIDED HOUSING FOR 127 MOTHERS AND WELCOMED 38 NEWBORNS, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN CARED FOR TO 80. SECURING STABLE HOUSING DURING PREGNANCY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR BOTH THE MOTHER AND HER UNBORN CHILD. WITHOUT A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE TO LIVE, A PREGNANT WOMAN FACES INCREASED RISKS-PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND MEDICALLY. STRESS FROM HOUSING INSTABILITY CAN LEAD TO COMPLICATIONS LIKE PREMATURE BIRTH, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT, AND POOR MATERNAL HEALTH. A STABLE HOME PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR PROPER NUTRITION, REST, PRENATAL CARE, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING-ALL ESSENTIAL FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY. IT ALSO GIVES AN EXPECTANT MOTHER PEACE OF MIND AND THE DIGNITY OF KNOWING SHE AND HER BABY ARE SAFE. WHEN HOUSING IS SECURE, SHE CAN FOCUS ON PREPARING FOR MOTHERHOOD RATHER THAN SURVIVING DAY TO DAY. AT GOOD COUNSEL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT MEETING THIS BASIC NEED CAN BE LIFE- CHANGING. THAT'S WHY WE ACT QUICKLY WHEN A WOMAN REACHES OUT FOR HELP- BECAUSE A STABLE HOME IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A HEALTHY LIFE FOR TWO. A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS COME FROM VERONICA. WHEN VERONICA LEARNED SHE WAS PREGNANT, SHE WAS LIVING WITH HER SISTER - WHO SOON DISCOVERED SHE WAS ALSO EXPECTING. INCREDIBLY, BOTH WERE PREGNANT WITH TWINS. WITH LIMITED SPACE, THE SISTER ASKED VERONICA TO MOVE OUT. RELYING ON HER INCOME FROM HER JOB, VERONICA MANAGED TO PAY FOR A HOTEL WHILE TRYING TO SAVE ENOUGH FOR A PERMANENT HOME. BUT CARRYING TWINS AND NEARING HER DUE DATE, SHE HAD TO BEGIN MATERNITY LEAVE, WHICH LED TO A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN INCOME. THE HOTEL QUICKLY BECAME UNAFFORDABLE. EVERY SHELTER SHE CONTACTED WAS FULL. HOPE BEGAN TO FADE-UNTIL SOMEONE BROUGHT HER TO GOOD COUNSEL. JUST DAYS AFTER ARRIVING AT GOOD COUNSEL, VERONICA GAVE BIRTH TO HER TWIN BOYS - MARC AND MARCUS. HER CASE MANAGER WAS BY HER SIDE IN THE DELIVERY ROOM, AND HAVING SOMEONE THERE TO HOLD HER HAND BROUGHT IMMENSE COMFORT AND RELIEF. VERONICA IS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE LOVING, SUPPORTIVE HOME SHE FOUND AT GOOD COUNSEL. WITH ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, SHE'S NOW PURSUING HER EDUCATION AND PLANS TO ENTER THE MEDICAL FIELD. ALONGSIDE THE OTHER MOMS, SHE SHARES IN DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES LIKE COOKING AND CHORES-BUILDING BOTH LIFE SKILLS AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. SHE OFTEN SAYS GOOD COUNSEL HAS TRANSFORMED HER LIFE AND RESTORED HER HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. SOME MOTHERS STAY AT GOOD COUNSEL THROUGHOUT THEIR PREGNANCY, WHILE OTHERS ARRIVE AFTER GIVING BIRTH-IT ALL DEPENDS ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. MANY PREGNANT WOMEN COME TO US IN AN EMERGENCY AND MAY LATER REUNITE WITH FAMILY OR SECURE AN APARTMENT BEFORE DELIVERY. OTHERS CALL FROM THE HOSPITAL SHORTLY AFTER GIVING BIRTH. HOSPITALS WILL NOT DISCHARGE A MOTHER AND BABY WITHOUT A SAFE PLACE TO GO. STILL, SOME NEW MOTHERS RETURN TO THEIR APARTMENT ALONE WITH A NEWBORN, IN URGENT NEED OF NOT ONLY HOUSING BUT ALSO THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE EVERY NEW MOM DESERVES-ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE NO ONE TO BE WITH THEM DAY OR NIGHT.