As an organization focused on supporting and equipping people facing pregnancy decisions, we want to remove as many of the barriers as possible which negatively impact our clients’ pregnancy decisions. Safe housing and financial stability are big ones.
Merci’s Refuge, Magnolia House and Birchwood Apartments are programs of Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center. Since 1985 Living Alternatives has served women in Illinois and Indiana experiencing unplanned pregnancies through material assistance, mentoring, pregnancy testing, and free ultrasounds. It is out of this mission and history of supporting women that the vision for these housing programs was born.
In 2016, Merci’s Refuge (Champaign, IL) began welcoming women who were seeking an opportunity to heal from past trauma and get a fresh start on life. Designed as a counseling program, Merci’s Refuge provides more than a safe place, but also individual and group counseling, life skills classes, case management, recovery support and an opportunity to slowly reenter the workforce and independent living with a renewed sense of wholeness and network of support relationships.
In 2022, Birchwood Apartments was launched in partnership with Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, IL) which made available a small apartment complex with 4 1-bedroom units for independent living. Transitional housing and case management services provide young moms or pregnant women safety and support while they work to improve their financial stability.
In 2024, an organization that began housing young moms in a residential home approached Living Alternatives about partnering together to bring residential experience and financial stability to this project. Reopened as Magnolia House (Champaign, IL) in 2025, this home offers 3 rooms to young women between the ages of 18-22 who are pregnant or parenting. The aim is to prevent recurring trauma through stable housing among this vulnerable population, while also equipping the women through curriculum and case management focused on parenting skills, improving financial stability, and expanding their network of supportive relationships.
Safe housing and financial stability remains a critical need for many of our clients. We are thankful for the generosity of local churches, organizations and individuals who make these 3 programs to our clients at no cost and without government subsidies.
