Twenty-five years ago, the Teen Haven opened its doors to young mothers in need of housing.

Originally located on Berkeley Road in Pembroke, the ten-bedroom facility moved to its current site on Happy Valley Road in August, 2001. It is now known as the Bay View Haven.

Besides boasting a spectacular view of the City and Hamilton Harbour, the home offers its residents all of the amenities needed to make a mother and child comfortable.

In addition to having both a dining and living room, the Haven is also equipped with a state-of-the-art industrial kitchen and playroom for the residents' children.

While she said the home usually accommodates mothers between the ages of 16 and 21, Teen Services director Michelle Wade-Johnson said in emergency cases, the Haven will accept women up to the age of 26. Each woman has to sit through an interview before being considered for admittance.

Eight women and their children are currently living at the facility.

Because the Haven is a registered charity, residents are required to pay $1,200 a month to live there. Often, the Haven is the recipient of generous donations from members of the community.

According to Ms Wade-Johnson, there are two types of residents at the Haven; those with an income and those without.

"While we work out a budget with those who are working, the others' housing costs are paid for by the Department of Financial Assistance," she said.

With rules such as an 11 p.m. curfew on the weeknights and midnight on Saturdays, Ms Wade-Johnson said sometimes the women who pay for their housing think the rules should not have to apply them.

And she stressed that the Haven was more than "just a place to stay".

By contractual agreement, the women are required to perform household chores such as cooking and cleaning.

"They have to take care of the Haven the same as they would their own homes," Ms Wade-Johnson said.

While she said she loved her job, live-in matron Adina McCallan said sometimes her most difficult task was dealing with demanding fathers.

"We have restricted visitation hours and at times the fathers feel because it is their child, they have the right so see it when they want."

Besides ensuring the residents are abiding by the rules and properly caring for their babies, Mrs. McCallan said she has often been called upon to rush expectant moms to the hospital.

"Do I drive, you ask? Lots of time and fast, when I have too," she said with a laugh.

As she reflected on the hundreds of women who have passed through the Haven's doors, Mrs. McCallan said: "I've seen many become successful, but when I see some of the girls repeat their situations, I get very upset about that.

"I love to see when they move into the community and do well for themselves, but when they don't practise what they've been taught, it hurts me."

Shirley Place is the Haven's coordinator. Among her duties, she provides counselling for the residents and their families. She also liaises with other agencies to help the young mothers to empower themselves.

"Mrs. Place looks at all areas of their lives," Ms Wade-Johnson told The Royal Gazette.

And while she said that sometimes people viewed the young mothers as being resistant to change, Mrs. Place said: "People have to understand that change is a process. It takes time."

As she admitted there were times when she felt her charges were not absorbing what was being taught to them, she said the greatest part of her job was when she witnessed change after they had left the home.

"That's success for me."

@EDITRULE:

The Haven will be selling Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings on Thursday between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. The cost is $12. They will also be serving vegetarian meals for those who do not eat meat.