(Oregon Right to Life) — For too many women, abortion can seem like the only way out of a difficult situation. Pregnant moms facing economic uncertainty, coercion, domestic violence, and homelessness often feel pressured to abort even if they would far rather keep their babies.
Moms in these circumstances who are seeking refuge in the Portland area need look no further than Hope’s Garden Maternity Home, which officially opened its doors this year. Founded by Christian wife and mother Jennifer Usselman, Hope’s Garden offers a safe, homelike environment for women and girls in need.
Usselman told Oregon Right to Life the inspiration for founding Hope’s Garden came after she realized during prayer that abortion, “at its core,” is a form of domestic violence: the “hurting of another by a family member.”
“And oftentimes, it’s not even something that the woman wants to choose,” she said. That realization led her to the decision to found a maternity home to help and support these moms.
“Like any crazy idea, it was God,” Usselman said laughingly. “It was just kind of planted in my heart, really strongly, by Him. And I couldn’t shake it.”
Pregnant moms who come to Hope’s Garden are welcome to call it their home throughout their pregnancy and up to two years after the birth of their baby. During their stay, they’ll enjoy comprehensive support in the care of their babies, help completing their educations and pursuing their dream jobs, and opportunities to take part in Bible studies and learn how to run their own households – all with the goal of helping them become the confident, vision-oriented moms they were created to be.
“Like any crazy idea, it was God,” Usselman said laughingly. “It was just kind of planted in my heart, really strongly, by Him. And I couldn’t shake it.”
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The robust range of care, support, and family-style collaboration Hope’s Garden provides is an intentional and Christ-centered plan designed to support moms physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
“My heart was always for women and children,” said Usselman, who’s been married to her husband for 25 years and is the mother of two teenagers.
As a child, the Portland-area native gave a school presentation on the pro-life message; and in college, she created a thesis project on developing safe housing for women and children seeking a safe escape from domestic violence.
In 2022, she made the decision during prayer to found a maternity home for pregnant women in difficult situations.
Though initially uncertain about her ability to accomplish such a substantial undertaking, Usselman decided to fully accept what she knew to be God’s call. A series of providential events later – including bringing “House Grandma” and assistant Kathy Mackin and “House Mother” Avary Johnson on board, finding the perfect property, and receiving enough donations to cover a year’s worth of expenses – Hope’s Garden officially opened its doors this year.
Johnson told Oregon Right to Life that joining the team with Usselman has been “a dream come true.”
“To speak life and offer encouragement to once-hopeless and homeless pregnant women and their children, and be able to help guide them in changing the trajectory of their lives is truly a purpose-filled life,” she said.
As Hope’s Garden prepares to receive its first residents, Community Outreach Coordinator Aubrianne Trout said the organization has focused on strengthening its networking with pro-life partners and ensuring that “the house is fully stocked and ready to serve these moms and babies.”
The home already boasts fully furnished and decorated rooms that are noticeable for a crucial element: their beauty.
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The entire maternity home has been intentionally decorated to create a welcoming, beautiful space to help moms and babies to thrive. For Usselman, a professional interior designer, providing an aesthetically pleasing environment was a big part of her vision for the home.
“It’s always been a value of mine to have beautiful surroundings,” Usselman shared, praising Lori Aase for designing the rooms and Susan Huseby for creating the custom wall paintings. “Especially for these women, we want them to know their worth. God wants them to know their worth, and we want them to feel worthy of beautiful things and a beautiful life.”
Hope’s Garden is fundamentally a community – and it relies on the support of the broader community of like-minded pro-life people to keep its crucial mission of love and support going.
There are many ways for pro-life advocates to get involved, from donating household supplies, to providing bilingual tutoring, driving the moms to appointments, babysitting, organizing items – and of course, becoming a monthly donor. Contributing even small monthly donations provides nonprofits like Hope’s Garden with a steady source of income to cover necessities like food and electricity.
In addition, churches and pro-life businesses are encouraged to sign up to do a baby bottle drive: interested organizations can place 15-inch baby bottles in their lobby to collect contributions.
“We don’t want tithes, just want the gleanings, you know, the change,” Usselman said. “A lot of that could add up fast, and it can do a lot of good work.”
In her comments to Oregon Right to Life, Trout said Hope’s Garden is about providing moms with the future they deserve. And it stands as proof against the false claim that the pro-life movement only seeks to prevent abortions and doesn’t actually care about the moms.
“The pro-abortion side constantly says that the pro-life side never does anything for anybody except for the unborn baby. We just know that that is not true,” Trout said. “This program is such a beautiful example of that: We are taking care of the mom and the baby in a long term format to really equip everyone so that they can just have the lives that the Lord has destined for them: Lives of spiritual depth and knowledge and productivity and of strong, positive parenting.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Hope’s Garden will take place from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Friday, February 21 at 1707 SE Courtney Ave. Milwaukie, Oregon, 97222. Pro-life advocates in the area who are interested in supporting the maternity home are warmly encouraged to attend.
Oregon Right to Life Education Foundation is actively involved in creating and distributing localized resource guides to ensure that abortion-vulnerable moms and families throughout Oregon have access to life-affirming options.
Oregon Right to Life believes in the sanctity of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death. Abortion ends the life of a genetically distinct, growing human being. We oppose abortion at any point of gestation. Read the complete statement and all of our position statements here.
