In Burlington, Ontario, a maternity shelter called Shifra Homes is stepping in for young pregnant women who have nowhere else to turn. Many of these women arrive in profound crisis—escaping homelessness, human trafficking, or severely broken families. Often, they show up with just a single suitcase and no support system.
Executive Director Nancy Romic, affectionately known by the residents as “Big Mamma,” approaches this crisis with radical, unconditional love. Romic’s philosophy is that providing a safe, loving environment can heal the trauma these young mothers have endured.
Her care goes far beyond basic shelter. Romic handles everything from securing emergency dental surgery to providing a shoulder to cry on, insisting that the home operate as a true family where the residents support and love one another.
This love-first approach is incredibly effective. Shifra Homes boasts a 95% success rate in breaking cycles of homelessness and trauma. The young mothers who pass through its doors regularly go on to finish school, build careers, and raise healthy children, frequently returning to visit the woman who loved them through their darkest chapter.
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