Mother St. Teresa of Calcutta often pointed to Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew: “Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for Me.”

That call to recognize Christ in those who are struggling continues to inspire countless acts of compassion. In northeastern Minnesota, one organization’s response has taken the form of two maternity homes.

Through the work of the Together For Life Northland (TFLN), Star of the North (SON) Maternity Homes in Duluth and Hibbing provide housing, support and practical assistance for pregnant women and mothers experiencing housing instability, addiction, trauma and other significant challenges.

The TFLN Collaborative began in 2010 and identified the need for residential services in 2018. Star of the North Twin Ports opened in 2019, followed by Star of the North Iron Range in 2022.

Today, the homes serve pregnant women and mothers with children up to age 10, offering much more than shelter. Residents receive help accessing health care, behavioral health services, education, employment opportunities, transportation, parenting support and individualized planning for long-term stability.

Each woman arrives with a different story.

A Different Future

For 27-year-old Lindsey, homelessness had been a reality for much of her life.

After becoming pregnant as a teenager, she struggled to find stability. Over the course of a decade, she lived in only two apartments, each for a matter of months. Addiction, homelessness and despair often seemed impossible to overcome.

In 2023, following the loss of her housing, Lindsey attempted to take her own life.

Looking back, she says she simply did not know how to live independently.

“When you’re homeless, you’re surrounded by other people who are homeless,” she said. “Sometimes, you’re around people who keep you stuck where you’re at, and you don’t know where else to go.”

Concerned for the well-being of her children, she made the difficult decision to place them with family members who could provide stability while she sought treatment and recovery. She remained an active part of their lives.

After entering a treatment program, Lindsey became pregnant with her third child. Finding housing proved almost impossible, as many programs would not accept children.

“To get housing in some places, I would have had to give up my baby,” she said.

Then she learned that Star of the North had an opening. She moved into the program in October 2025 and, four months later, welcomed her daughter. The support she found there extended far beyond having a roof over her head.

Since arriving, Lindsey has earned her driver’s license, purchased her first vehicle, completed high school after having left school in eighth grade and enrolled at Lake Superior College. During her first semester, she earned straight A’s.

She credits the program with helping her learn skills many people take for granted, including budgeting, meal planning, goal setting, and managing everyday responsibilities.

“You get taught how to be independent,” she said. “Not just independent, but how to be successfully independent.”

The women meet regularly with a life coach to establish goals and create plans for achieving them. The process helped Lindsey learn how to prioritize and build healthy routines.

Equally important was discovering she was not alone.

“When you first get there and meet the other women, you realize you’re not the only person going through this,” she said. “It helps break down the guilt and shame.”

Living alongside other mothers created opportunities for friendship, accountability, and mutual support.

“If someone is having a hard day, there’s always somebody there to talk to,” she said. “That helps keep you going.”

Today, Lindsey is preparing for a future she once struggled to imagine.

She is especially grateful that Star of the North allowed her to remain with her youngest child while building a stable life.

“They gave me the opportunity to be a mother,” she said.

The change has not gone unnoticed by those closest to her.

Molly Rathke, manager of the Twin Ports home, recalled speaking with Lindsey’s father.

“He couldn’t stop talking about the transformation he’d seen,” Rathke said. “He kept saying, ‘I knew my Lindsey was still in there. I knew it.’”

Learning to Trust Again

Marlana’s road to Star of the North was also marked by hardship.

Now 26, she began struggling with addiction when she was just 13 years old.

By 2024, she and her young daughter were homeless and living out of a vehicle. At times, they found temporary places to stay, but nothing was permanent.

“It was very tough trying to raise a daughter like that,” Marlana said.

She arrived at Star of the North in August 2024 after completing a treatment program.

The early months of recovery were not easy.

“There were a lot of times I wanted to pack up and leave,” she said.

Instead, she found a community willing to stand beside her through the difficult moments.

“They were so patient and compassionate,” she said. “They always seemed to know the right thing to say.”

Years of addiction had left her carrying emotions she did not know how to process. Gradually, the support she received helped her regain confidence.

“They helped me believe that my past didn’t have to define me,” she said.

During her stay, Marlana earned her driver’s license, worked toward her educational goals and gained skills that prepared her for living independently.

One memory remains especially meaningful. For her daughter’s third birthday, Marlana rented a community center, filled it with balloons and welcomed family and friends for pizza and cake. What looked like a simple birthday party on the surface represented something far more significant to her. The year before, she had spent her daughter’s birthday in jail. Now, she could finally give her daughter the celebration she had long wanted to provide.

“It meant everything,” she said.

When it came time to move into her own apartment, the search proved challenging. Applications were repeatedly denied.

Still, staff members continued encouraging her and helped her strengthen her applications with letters of recommendation.

Eventually, she received an approval.

Today, Marlana has a job, attends college and is raising her daughter in her own apartment, milestones that once seemed out of reach. Yet Star of the North continues to be a source of encouragement and support. In many ways, it still feels like home, a sentiment reflected in the fact that her daughter refers to the maternity home simply as “home.”

More than Shelter

Every Monday, the women gather to build skills that will help them succeed long after they leave the program.

They discuss topics such as communication, healthy conflict resolution, parenting, budgeting and life planning. Residents work together to create weekly meal plans and share responsibility for maintaining the home.

For many women, these experiences provide something they have rarely encountered: a safe environment where disagreements can be addressed respectfully and relationships can be rebuilt.

“A lot of the moms are coming from situations of trauma, crisis or conflict,” Rathke explained. “ “We teach them how to achieve goals, manage their time and have healthy communication and conflict resolution in a safe place.”

Dr. Sue McClernon, SON executive director and founder, developed an individualized life care plan and an evidence-based phases program to help women move toward self-sufficiency. Intentionally, the 24/7 staffed home and program are critical to ensure residents advance successfully as they are celebrated as they make the preparations for being parents and living independently.

Unlike some programs with strict deadlines, Star of the North encourages moms to stay as long as they are working the program. The goal is not simply helping residents survive a crisis. It is helping them build a future out of poverty and into independence. “We are helping them have the time to truly move forward,” Rathke said.

That commitment reflects the program’s larger philosophy.

Since 2019 and 2022, SON Twin Ports and SON Iron Range, respectively, have served more than 70 mothers and 70 babies and children. Last year alone, with support from the Together for Life Northland Board of Directors led by Deacon Lyle Johnson, SON provided more than 4,000 nights of safe housing and nutritious meals, as well as over 2,000 rides that connected women with healthcare, education, employment resources and other vital services. For Lindsey, the impact of that support is undeniable.

“A lot of programs tell you what you need to do and send you on your way,” she said. “Here, they walk with you through it.”

Answering the Call

Star of the North receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations, fundraisers, volunteers and community support.

Yet its impact is measured not only in statistics, housing placements, or completed programs.

It is found in mothers who regain hope, children who experience stability and families who discover a path forward.

Reflecting on God’s love, Mother St. Teresa once wrote that the Lord not only loves us but also invites us to share that love with others.

At Star of the North, that invitation is lived out every day.

Through patient accompaniment, practical support and unwavering belief in the dignity of every mother and child, lives are being rebuilt one step at a time.

For women like Lindsey and Marlana, the maternity home has been more than a place to stay.

It has been a place to begin again. 

Do You or Someone You Know Need Help?

StarOfTheNorthMaternityHome.org

• Star of the North Twin Ports
  218.340.1645  |  [email protected]

• Star of the North Iron Range
  218.206.1381  |  [email protected]

Support the Mission

Star of the North relies on the generosity of the community to serve mothers and children in need. 

To learn more, volunteer or make a donation, visit starofthenorthmaternityhome.org