Grandma’s House began in 1992 when seven concerned community members met over coffee at a local Denny’s. They saw pregnant and parenting teens struggling – some couch-surfing, some homeless – and realized almost no local resources existed to help them. Determined to change that, they set out to create a safe, supportive home for young mothers and their babies.
Fundraising began, a house was secured, and Grandma’s House opened its doors. The name came from the girls themselves. Attending Bend High School, they didn’t want to tell classmates they lived in a shelter. When asked where they were staying, the director suggested they simply say, “I’m at my grandma’s house.” The name stuck – and so did the legacy.
One of the first volunteers (who later became a staff member and then director) opened her own home to two pregnant teens, ages 14 and 17. “It’s just my nature,” she said. Over the decades, she had the privilege of rocking every baby who came through Grandma’s House. By the time she retired in 2020, the program had served more than 270 young mothers and their children. “We never turned anyone away,” she reflected. “Our focus was clear: get these young women back in school to finish their education and teach them the parenting and life skills they needed to thrive. It’s about the girls, and they are the ones who do all the work, we’re just there for support.”
In 2017, Grandma’s House merged with J Bar J Youth Services to strengthen administrative support (accounting, HR, insurance, and community partnerships) while preserving the program’s heart and mission. The merger allowed for a thoughtful leadership transition, ensuring the founder’s vision and wisdom would carry forward.
Today, Grandma’s House is home to up to 11 young mothers and their babies, cared for by a dedicated team of 9 professionals.
For more than thirty years, this community has come together – through Rotary Clubs, churches, businesses, volunteers, and generous donors – to give pregnant and parenting teens a place of safety, belonging, and hope. At Grandma’s House, they don’t just find shelter. They build foundations, gain confidence, learn essential skills, and create lifelong support networks that help them and their children look toward a brighter future.
Thank you for being part of their story.