"The vision for Waymaker Haven for Children was born out of my personal journey as both a mother and a grandmother. My daughter endured the pain of an abusive relationship while struggling with addiction and unstable housing. There were moments when she could not provide consistent care for her child.
In those times of crisis, she turned to The Blessing House in Elyria, Ohio, which became a safe haven for my grandchild. Whether she was recovering from surgery, experiencing homelessness, or facing the challenges of addiction and emotional instability, The Blessing House provided the care and stability our family needed. Without it, I am not sure what would have happened.
I was able to support my daughter and eventually step in for my grandchild—but I know many families in Lucas County do not have that kind of safety net. Parents who want to keep custody of their children are often forced to make impossible choices when confronted with addiction, domestic violence, homelessness, or physical and mental health struggles." -Jodi Behrendt, Founder
In July 2024 Waymaker Haven for Children LLC was established. October 2024 a board of directors was formed, the application for a nonprofit status was filed, we started the process of finding a house and preparing for certification.
