About Naomi's House

Our mission is to create a safe and empowering space where underserved communities can access a comprehensive range of services to support their personal and professional growth and keep them gainfully and meaningfully employed so that they can realize their own unique version of "The American Dream." Through programs including emergency childcare, health/wellness services, therapy, educational/vocational grants, transportation services and life skills training we aim to foster equity, improve economic opportunities, and enhance the overall well-being of underserved communities. By addressing systemic barriers and providing holistic support, we strive to build a future where every individual has the resources they need to thrive.

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Message from our Founder: 

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First off I want to thank you for taking the time to visit our website to learn more about Naomi's House.  Second, I'd like to tell you more about how it all started...

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In my family, it was a deeply held belief that the path to success—if not all good things—came through two fundamental principles: education and hard work. But not just any education—the best education one could afford, achieved through diligence and determination. And not just any work—meaningful, consistent, and challenging work that earned a fair wage.

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I got my first job at 14 as a busser at a local bar and grill, and I’ve worked nearly every day since. In college, my GPA was highest when I balanced two work-study jobs and a part-time gig. I thrive when I work. And for me, my family's beliefs have proven true—I built a successful corporate career and am now a thriving business owner. In many ways, I am living "The American Dream."

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But this dream didn’t simply materialize. Every step of the way, I had tremendous support. I came from a solidly middle-class family that provided invaluable resources. I had someone to teach me how to change a tire, budget my money, and why nutrition and exercise mattered. I had access to fresh food from our small family garden. My father took me to the bank to open my first checking account and taught me how to balance my checkbook. When I turned 16, I had someone to help me get a (used!) car—and someone to pick me up when it broke down. I attended good schools with dedicated teachers. Though raised by a single dad after my mother passed away, I had a godmother who taught me to cook and family who cared for me when I was sick. Simply put, I had a village that supported my success. I was one of the lucky ones. 

 

I grew up in Gary, Indiana, in the 1980s, so I witnessed poverty, crime, gang violence, and socioeconomic disparity firsthand. But it wasn’t until I started my hospitality business that I truly grasped the extent to which underserved communities lack access to even the most basic resources I had taken for granted.

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Consider a young adult raised in a single-parent household in a struggling neighborhood. Her mother works three jobs just to put food on the table, and her grandmother—while helping raise several other grandchildren—still works herself. Who teaches that young woman about car maintenance, personal finance, or nutrition? Who helps her with her homework? All too often the answer is: NO ONE. And when she enters the workforce, she faces a barrage of “adulting” challenges—paying bills, managing credit, filing taxes, caring for a sick child—often while earning a low wage. Despite these hurdles, she’s expected to show up every day, energized and ready to perform. If she falters, she risks unemployment. And we all know where that road leads: a cycle of generational poverty that becomes nearly impossible to escape.

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In my first year running my hospitality business, I was shocked and saddened by the level of trauma and challenges my employees carried with them daily. I saw high turnover, not due to lack of effort but because of avoidable obstacles—transportation issues, unexpected expenses, lack of emergency childcare. It broke my heart because I believe so deeply that stable employment is a key to breaking the cycle of poverty. These individuals didn’t need or want handouts; they needed support.

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So, we started small. We invited guest speakers to share practical knowledge—how to file taxes, build credit, or identify & seek treatment for common mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. We stocked the staff room with free snacks and provided meals when employees came to work hungry. I began offering interest-free microloans to employees in good standing to help them navigate financial emergencies. Most importantly, I listened. And the results were undeniable— morale improved, recidivism dropped, and the quality of our work skyrocketed.

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This experience sparked the idea for Naomi’s House. I saw firsthand how transformational even modest support could be. Employees who once struggled to hold jobs for months were now staying for years. They were earning raises—sometimes out-earning everyone else in their families. They were putting themselves through school, buying cars, securing housing—sometimes becoming the first in their families to move out of public housing. They stood taller, smiled more, and no longer felt alone in life’s struggles. We had each other’s backs.

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The impact of this consistent support has been profound—not just for them, but for me as well.

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I invite you to join us in this mission. Together, we can provide hard-working individuals with the resources and support they need to stay employed, further their education, and reach their full potential. By doing so, we can empower them to contribute to their families, strengthen their communities, and manifest their own version of "The American Dream."

 

Jennifer