Featured photo: Yvonne Penton stands outside of House of Esther, which has been condemned by the city.
Written by Jameca Patrick-Singleton
Yvonne Penton became pregnant at just 15 years old.
“I was my dad’s only daughter,” she said.
Penton’s father said she would help her.
With her family’s support, Penton was not only able to raise her daughter in a positive environment, but she also finished high school and obtained both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. An understanding of the roadblocks faced by pregnant teens without a lot of options is what fueled Penton’s passion and desire to start a program called House of Esther, a residential based program for teen moms and their small children.
“It’s always been my passion because I was one of those girls,” Penton explained. “I was a pregnant teen.”
House of Esther is a 21-room program that is designed to allow pregnant teenagers to live, complete their educations, access resources and create a strong healthy familial type bond with each other, the staff and their mentors during the time that they are pregnant and 12 months after while still living at House of Esther. Each room has been adopted and designed by community members, churches and organizations.
“We have several partners, U of M Nursing, all three colleges, Habitat for Humanity, Huntington Bank. They are willing to help these young moms, many homeless or aging out of foster care.”
While House of Esther is currently connecting pregnant moms to resources, they have yet to accept their first live-in resident-despite being having a location in the 500 block of West Pierson Road.
“In 2016 we found this location and the owners gave us permission to occupy the buildings that once occupied the church and the perish, but we weren’t able to get water because the way the campus is set up. All of the meters are in the former school that’s on the campus.”
There needs to be a pipe laid by the city to have water independently accessed by the buildings occupied by House of Esther. According to Penton, this request was made to the City of Flint in 2020. Penton claims that the city hasn’t done its part to allow the water to be turned on, but is now condemning the building for that very reason.
In addition, the city has stated that the House of Ester hasn’t paid back property taxes that were part of the agreement to take ownership of the building.
“They’re saying that the buildings are a safety hazard because there is no water. We know that, which is why we asked them to help us.”
Community activists are rallying around House of Esther, asking the city to rescind its decision to condemn the building.
“Councilwoman Burns and Councilman Mays are trying to help us get a meeting with the city to help resolve the issue. I am in this to help these young women and their children. I want them to know that their history does not define their destiny.”
