By Alexia Beatriz Fodere - The Archdiocese of Miami

Photography: Lex Fodere

MIAMI | A newly renovated home in Little Havana will soon provide shelter, support, and hope for homeless pregnant women and mothers with infants.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami celebrated the blessing and ribbon-cutting of the New Life program May 13, 2026. The residence will offer free, faith-based housing and support services for up to six women and their children as they work toward stability and independence.

Bishop Enrique Delgado blessed the facility, while Peter Routsis-Arroyo, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, described the project as a renewed commitment to caring for some of the community's most vulnerable families.

“This program offers more than housing; it provides a safe place for mothers to begin again and take the first steps toward a more permanent situation with their children,” Routsis-Arroyo said. “It is a commitment to care, dignity, and support for those in moments of need.”

 Founded in 1931, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami has been a leading provider of social services in South Florida for nearly a century, serving residents of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties.

Inspired by the Gospel call to serve those in need, the agency offers housing, family support, food assistance, immigration services, and other programs designed to protect human dignity, strengthen families, and build stronger communities. Through its ministries, Catholic Charities seeks to make Christ's compassion visible to all, regardless of faith or background. 

A home for mothers in need 

The initiative is designed for pregnant women and mothers with infants who are experiencing homelessness. In addition to temporary housing for up to one year, residents will receive intensive case management, medical referrals, child care support, and assistance in securing permanent housing.

Routsis-Arroyo said the project represents the latest chapter in Catholic Charities’ long-standing housing ministry.

More than 25 years ago, Catholic Charities operated the New Life Center, a shelter for homeless families in Wynwood. Today, that mission has expanded to include a 30-unit workforce housing community and the newly revived New Life program dedicated specifically to homeless pregnant women and mothers.

“We are very excited about this next chapter,” Routsis-Arroyo said. “We are grateful to the community partners and supporters who have made this work possible.”

Bishop Delgado called the opening “a significant step in the Church’s mission to accompany mothers in need.”

“Many women who are pregnant and later find themselves without a place to go after giving birth are often in a very vulnerable moment in their lives,” Bishop Delgado said. “This facility offers them a safe and welcoming home, a place where they can be sheltered and supported as they transition toward stability and independence.”

He added that the project reflects the Church’s commitment to protecting the dignity of every human life.

“We hold firmly to the belief that life is sacred, and we are called to protect it at every stage, from conception to natural death, always with love, compassion, and respect,” he said.

City of Miami District 4 Commissioner Ralph Rosado emphasized the importance of the project, saying, “Standing here today, I represent much of Little Havana, and we know there is a great need for affordable housing for all types of families, especially for pregnant women who are not married.

“This building has five units and will help several families, giving them the opportunity to eventually become independent. This is emergency support that will be provided for about one year. We know there are already many people on the waiting list and many families in need of this assistance. I am truly grateful to the Archdiocese for its commitment to the community, for this building, and for all the work that went into making this possible.”

A mission decades in the making

The roots of New Life date back to 1987, when the Christian Community Service Agency opened a 15-unit homeless shelter in Wynwood. Despite financial challenges, the shelter endured and became one of the few facilities willing to house entire families experiencing homelessness.

For more than two decades, Catholic Charities operated the shelter with strong support from donors, volunteers, and community partners.

That support continued through the years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and eventually helped make possible a new 30-unit workforce housing complex located about 20 blocks from the original shelter.

The organization's housing ministry also received an unexpected boost through a partnership with the Ursuline Sisters.

At the same time, Father José Luis Menéndez, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, was approached by the Ursuline Sisters. Founded in 1535, the Ursulines have a long and distinguished history. They arrived in New Orleans in 1727, later established themselves in Cuba in 1804, and eventually expanded throughout the United States after leaving Cuba during the Castro regime, founding Catholic schools for girls.

In 1992, the Ursulines completed construction of the building, originally intended for alumni activities. With Father Menéndez’s advice, they later approached Catholic Charities to discuss its future purpose.

In 2025, a significant agreement was reached: the Ursulines donated the building to the Archdiocese of Miami with the condition that it be used permanently to serve homeless pregnant women and mothers.

Supported by donors and the Archdiocese, the building underwent approximately $300,000 in renovations before reopening as the new home of the New Life program.

A new chapter for New Life 

Beginning July 1, the program will accept referrals for up to six homeless pregnant women or mothers with infants.

The initiative will provide free, faith-based housing in a safe and supportive environment for up to one year.

This program is designed not only as a shelter but also as a pathway to self-sufficiency.

The facility includes offices for intensive case management, as well as access to medical referrals for both mothers and infants, child care support, and nearby early childhood programs.

For Catholic Charities, the opening represents the continuation of a mission that began nearly four decades ago and continues to evolve in response to the needs of the community.

Following the blessing, guests toured the newly renovated apartments, offices, and common areas before gathering for a reception.

The event marked not only the opening of a new residence but also the continuation of a long-standing mission to support mothers and children in need throughout Miami-Dade County.