Our Mission

Zelie’s Home is a caring community that empowers pregnant and parenting women to take positive and effective action on behalf of themselves and their children by providing physical, emotional, spiritual, and professional support.

Our Vision


A community where women thrive as they embrace motherhood.

Our Core Values

Human Dignity

At Zelie’s Home, we value all persons as children of God and treat them with love and respect. We strive to ensure that each member of the community has a voice in how we share life together. We support the establishment of healthy relationships and boundaries.

Safe Learning Environment

Zelie’s Home fosters a caring and loving environment. No one is judged for past mistakes. Each mom receives guidance and tools for making good choices for themselves and for their children.

Supportive and Collaborative Community

The staff, AmeriCorps members, volunteers, and Board of Directors of Zelie’s Home work together to achieve our mission and do it with love. We encourage our moms, both current and alumnae, to come together in supportive ways for each other. We utilize and share resources with other community organizations in support of our common goals.

Commitment to Growth

We foster growth both in our staff and in our moms. We encourage the moms, both current and alumnae, to set goals for themselves and their babies, celebrating with them every step forward along the way. Our staff learns and grows with the moms and babies, because life flourishes when we all become our best selves.

Resiliency and Creativity

We encourage our moms to be creative in achieving their goals. Our moms learn skills for moving forward even when they encounter obstacles and setbacks. We desire that each mom leave our program with a strong sense of resiliency and empowerment.

Our History

Cleveland

On July 1, 2020, Zelie’s Home renewed its commitment to providing shelter and support to homeless women during pregnancy and early parenting months. Originally established as The Zechariah House in Parma, Ohio, on June 24, 2009, it was part of the Maggie’s Place family based in Arizona. The house operated with the strong foundation of Maggie’s Place's mission and practices.

In 2016, The Zechariah House closed for anticipated renovations. Due to recurring delays, we realized Providence was inviting us to explore other options. In 2018, The Zechariah House relocated to Garfield Heights, Ohio, expanding its capacity to welcome and support up to 12 women at a time.

To better serve homeless women in Northeast Ohio, the Board of Directors of The Zechariah House decided in the spring of 2020 to establish a home independent of Maggie’s Place, Arizona. Within two months, the staff, Board of Directors, and dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to create Zelie’s Home. Zelie’s Home embodies the spirit of Maggie’s Place while addressing the unique needs of moms and babies in the Cleveland area.

Our Name

We are named after St. Zelie, wife of St. Louis Martin and mother of St. Therese of Lisieux and eight other children. She was ordinary yet extraordinary in her motherly ways. She had a great love for her children and is a great maternal figure to emulate.

St. Zelie had some poignant quotes, one being “The good Lord does not do things by halves; He always gives what we need. Let us then carry on bravely.” This is our motto as we transition and carry on bravely for the women and children of the Cleveland area.