In 2003, it became clear that the need for the type of residential care the General Protestant Children’s Home (GPCH), now the YouthBridge Community Foundation, provided was diminishing.   At the same time, there was a need for housing and support for families traveling to the area to receive specialized medical care for their children. The challenge was how to create a new, and much needed, social venture and maximize its success.

With that challenge, the first social enterprise investment by YouthBridge was launched, and in 2004, HavenHouse St. Louis became a reality.  HavenHouse was founded with the mission to provide the comfort of home and a community of support for families traveling to St. Louis to receive medical care for their children. YouthBridge provided start-up capital, a building lease for a very nominal rate and talented and dedicated staff to ensure its success.

HavenHouse now annually serves more than 1,200 children and their families who come to St. Louis from all over the world for specialized, extended care at one of five area pediatric hospitals. With newly created innovative revenue streams, HavenHouse is on the road to becoming fully self-sufficient, enabling it to continue its important mission of serving the families of children who need medical care.

To learn more about HavenHouse St. Louis click on the icon above or visit www.havenhouststl.org.