Marethie Pugh, together with husband Jake, will be Hamilton House of Grace's house parents. Photo / Danielle Nicholson
A new home for young mums-to-be is set to open its doors in Hamilton this month.
The House of Grace has been supporting teenagers through pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood in Wellington for 13 years, and is about to expand to a second home in Hamilton which can cater for up to four girls at a time.
According to the Salvation Army's eighth annual 'state of the nation' report, released earlier this year, New Zealand's teen pregnancy rates have fallen to the lowest level in at least 35 years, dropping from a peak of 59 pregnancies for every 1000 girls aged 15 to 19 as recently as 2008 to 35 for every 1000 girls in 2013.
The teen birth rate has trended down since at least 1980, and has come down in the past five years from 29 babies for every 1000 teen women aged 15-19 to 23.
But House of Grace Hamilton area manager Yvette Edlin said there is definitely a need for a community service such as the home - the purpose of which is to provide a safe, loving and supportive environment for the young women to live and prepare for the birth of their child.
The house itself is run by "houseparents", husband and wife Marethie and Jake Pugh who will instill practical life skills.
"This is an environment where young girls can come in and actually feel like they can win at life, and not instantly regret [their situation], but actually think 'I'm pregnant but I can do it' and so the vision for this home, the heart of this home is really that they would come into a loving environment and feel blessed and that they deserve the best," said Yvette.
"And that's where Marethie and Jake come in. They love working with youth, especially teenagers and just love seeing young people win, despite the circumstances."
The couple were leaders in their church and Jake teaches sports and recreation to children who have been expelled from school.
"He just loves his job, he loves working with youth. There is a need for that and he sees that," said Marethie.
Young women aged 12-23 are eligible to apply to live at the house and are referred from various avenues including CYFS, schools, social agencies and self referrals. All are interviewed, but not all are accepted into the home - and for various reasons. It could be that they don't want to be there, that they have drug and/or alcohol addictions that they aren't able or prepared to give up, or that their attitude or temperament aren't suitable to the mix of women already living at the home.
Those who are accepted into the home are asked to sign a contract that outlines their obligations and rules they agree to abide by. If they receive a Young Parent Payment or similar benefit, some or all of that goes to The House of Grace. In exceptional circumstances, where a girl can't pay, the organisation, which is a registered charitable trust, will bear the cost of her and her child's stay at the home.
They're trying to teach the girls how to live in the real world - that they have to allow for rent payments, food and power bills etc, and that if they breach their contract there are consequences.
For example, if they use drugs or alcohol, that will result in immediate dismissal. "It's showing them there are consequences if they don't adhere to [rules] ... it's another little life skill thing," said Yvette.
For the girls who are accepted into the home, they're bestowed with more than support and life skills.
When they arrive, they are given all they need in terms of maternity clothes, toiletries, clothes and bedding for their child. They get personalised care and Marethie and Jake ensure they leave equipped with the knowledge they need to raise a child.
There is after-care, a practical plan put in place for them around education or work and regular check-ins to ensure the mum is coping.
"We do the life skills course, we do a 'baby and me' course, we encourage them to go school if they're still in school."
When baby is about three months old, the mum is assessed to establish her situation - whether she is ready to move, if she is ready to look for a job or go back to school, whether she can manage baby and run a household.
"If she is ready, we let her go. And we have an after care plan and make sure she is going okay," said Yvette. "If we see baby is three months, but mum still not coping, can't quite handle the idea of going into a flat or another situation, we reassess, but the idea is when they feel ready and able to go out and be a great mum, we let them go. But we make sure we give them the skills to be independent and capable ... a lot of that isn't actually taught to these girls ... those basic life skills that we take for granted."
Marethie said she and Jake were committed to accepting their charges into their family.
"They really do become part of our family. We want them to leave here feeling happy with who they are. There's such a thing with insecurity ... young girls being told they're not good enough. We want to see them leave here feeling they have hope and a future and that they can be all that they were made to be and more if they want to.
"We love them, accept them, support them for who they are and encourage them to be the best people they can be."
Hamilton's House of Grace officially opens on May 25 and there will an open day on May 23 from 10am till midday. Those who wish to attend must email expressions of interest via www.thehouseofgrace.org.nz or email yvette@thehouseofgrace.org.nz.
The organisation also appreciates donations of quality household items and pregnancy and baby-related items and clothing. See www.thehouseofgrace.org.nz for details about what is needed.