Villa Majella

Villa Majella is Santa Barbara County’s only maternity home, a four-bedroom facility in Goleta that provides safe shelter, round-the-clock support, transportation, meals and access to vital services for up to 20 pregnant women and their babies annually, many of whom are homeless, in crisis, or otherwise without support. As many of the women face complex challenges that include substance use, trauma or mental health issues, Villa Majella offers them safety, stability and the chance to thrive as they bring their babies to term and beyond. 

Since its doors opened in 1982, Villa Majella of Santa Barbara, a nonprofit and non-denominational organization funded largely by local foundations and individual donations, has supported hundreds of women 18 and over through its maternity home program. 

The program provides a safe and nurturing living environment for up to six women at a time, who live in community in a residential home through the duration of their pregnancy and up to 3-6 months after delivery. 

“The majority of our moms are economically disadvantaged in the sense that they don’t have the capacity to pay what it costs to live here in Santa Barbara,” said Loretta Johnson, executive director. “Many of our moms are either experiencing domestic violence or a really complex living situation where there are other social factors. Bringing a child into that space is not something they feel comfortable doing.” 

Villa Majella provides material assistance such as food, toiletries, maternity clothing and baby items for those without resources, and also refers eligible women to government and non-government assistance programs such as the Food Bank or The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The organization partners with New Beginnings Counseling Center to provide weekly one-on-one in-house counseling services to its program participants.

Villa Majella also works with each pregnant woman to ensure they are enrolled in proper health insurance coverage, and coordinate with social service agencies to facilitate the enrollment process so that our mothers have access to medical care. The organization also ensures that all of its resident mothers are prepared for the labor and delivery process and equipped with the basic needs that will support them during their hospital stay. When women have no supportive family or friends, Villa Majella staff transports and accompanies them to the hospital. The women are also afforded prenatal education, including instruction in breast feeding and hands-on experience in newborn care as well as weekly in-house parenting classes. Visiting nurses also provide follow-up consultation when a mother returns to Villa Majella after her baby’s delivery.

“It’s not just about putting a pregnant woman in crisis in a bed and saying, ‘Hey, you’ve got a place to sleep tonight,’” Johnson said. “You’ve got to really support these moms in a lot of ways. Our main goal is providing shelter and support, but what we really want to do is connect them with all the different resources that already exist in Santa Barbara so that when they leave here, they know where they can go after to get continued support. We aim to set each woman up for long term success.”

To help finance the maternity home and its program, Villa Majella holds an annual fundraiser that is nothing like the usual hoity-toity gala. While its Autumn BBQ is held in Montecito, it’s a much more casual affair where supporters have gathered in October for nearly 25 years to celebrate Villa Majella’s mission. Between 150 and 200 community members enjoy delicious Santa Maria Style BBQ, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 1684, and the Catholic Daughters of America Court 293. 

Guests at this year’s event, slated for Saturday, October 11, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on East Valley Road, also listen to live local musical talent, hear presentations by four alumni moms who are attending with their children, and bid on silent auction items donated by over 70 local businesses. Tickets are just $45, with children under 12 admitted free. And while advance reservations are helpful in planning, people can also pay at the door.

“We didn’t want the ticket price to be outrageous because we want to welcome in younger families just getting acquainted with our mission to learn about who we are and what we do,” Johnson explained. “We’re wanting to build a community that can invest in whatever way that it can. Our theme this year is that it takes a village and we’re trying to emphasize how many different organizations and individuals join us in celebrating and supporting these moms and their babies. We want every mom to know that you’re loved and you’re supported and that there’s a home for you. There’s a space for you in our community.” 

But the dollars raised absolutely matter. 

“We don’t want any pregnant women to feel alone. By supporting a mom in this vulnerable moment, we can help change the trajectory of her future,” Johnson said. “For some this involves helping them rebuild broken relationships, for others it means helping them avoid entering long-term homelessness. We welcome them into the dignity of a home environment, show them they’re supported, and then help them rebuild. It is a high-cost operation, but the value is that the mom really does change the trajectory of her and her family’s life through our being able to focus on one mom at a time. Your support makes it all possible.” 

Call (805) 683-2838 or visit www.villamajella.org