We share a love for Christ, compassion for those in need, and a belief that all life is sacred.
Who We Are.
Board of Directors:
Corny and Glenda Dyck - MacGregor, MB
Peter and Janice Martens - Austin, MB
Rod and Barb Martens - Austin, MB
Scott Miller - Winnipeg, MB
Peter and Mary Penner - Austin, MB
Beginnings.
In March of 2018, HJH had its first official board meeting of three couples from the Austin area and soon after added a fourth. All four families have had connections with the foster care system and compassion for those in need. We desire to remove the barrier of lack of housing that prevents some women from choosing life for their child.
In 2019 we held our first informational event and fundraiser dessert evening at the Austin Community Hall with guest speakers Mary Loewen and Norm Thiessen. We were so thankful for those who came and gave. At this time we also sent out flyers and pamphlets explaining our hope is to provide options for pregnant women who are in need of housing.
Awareness.
Research.
In 2019 a visit was made to a maternity home in the States, Gianna’s House. Early 2020, we visited Charis House, a women’s addiction facility in Winnipeg. Later in 2020, another board member visited with the Red Deer pregnancy care centre to inquire more about how they operate their maternity home. Each of these visits has been very insighful.
After years of praying and deliberating over the best location for a maternity home, a plot of land was purchased on March 1, 2021, located at 687 Tupper St N in Portage La Prairie. It is located in a community with resources and other supports, transportation options and easy access to health care.
Location.
Amalgamation.
Hope Now Family Concepts (HNFC) was a maternity home near Crystal City, MB. The distant location from resources and health care was a factor in its recent closure. The two boards amalgamated in 2021 and joined together into what is now Hopes Journey Home, working towards setting up a maternity home within the city of Portage La Prairie. The wisdom and experience of the board members from HNFC will be invaluable to this work.
Our initial building phase addresses the framework of the home and began May 2023 once the building permit was approved. We are so thankful to have all the basement materials and labor donated thanks to Keystone Concrete, R-Jay Construction Inc, Homewood Colony, Towle Construction Ltd, Wayne Friesen Construction Ltd, and Grunthal Lumber. Thanks to Southman Design Group for the amazing plans and the City of Portage la Prairie for approving the variances.