CINCINNATI, Ohio — One in every 30 teens under age 17 in the United States has experienced or is at risk of experiencing homelessness, according to the National Network for Youth.

For young parents, that risk triples.

What You Need To Know

  • The new Holloway House & Resource Center has offically opened to serve teen parents in Greater Cincinnati

  • The nearly 7,000-square-foot facility offers housing, education, wellness services, and a place of stability for parents ages 9 to 19

  • Rosemary’s Babies Co. continues to seek additional funding and community partners to expand its offerings

Now, one Ohio nonprofit is working to change that narrative by providing a safe haven for teen parents who may have nowhere else to go.

Rosemary's Babies Co., based in Cincinnati, has officially opened the Holloway House & Resource Center in the Avondale neighborhood. The nearly 7,000-square-foot facility offers housing, education, wellness services and a place of stability for parents ages 9 to 19.

For Akya Daniels, now a receptionist at the facility and mother of five, the nonprofit offered hope at a time she felt alone. She first connected with Rosemary’s Babies when she was 16.

“It was a very big shock for me to find out I was pregnant at 16 and with twins,” Daniels said.

Through the program, she found emotional support, parenting guidance and a community of peers facing similar challenges.

“I learned a lot of new things like installing car seats, bedtime routines for my kids,” she said.

Daniels said that her favorite space in the new center is Levi's Learning Lab, and her experience with the nonprofit has inspired her to pursue a career in real estate and community outreach.

Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, CEO & Founder of Rosemary's Babies Co., became a parent at 17. She told Spectrum News 1 that she founded the organization back in 2016 to support other young parents.

During the pandemic, her team discovered that 35% of the teens they served were experiencing what’s known as hidden homlesness, a term for individuals without stable housing who may be couch surfing or living in unsafe environments.

The Holloway House, a dream for Oglesby-Henry, almost didn’t happen due to several setbacks.

“After going through multiple contractor issues and just going through the process of purchasing the building from the port, we’re here,” she said.

The new center features a full kitchen, multiple play areas, a STEM learning lab, and more. There are also seven fully furnished bedrooms for teen moms and their children. The transitional housing program will allow families to stay for up to 24 months and is expected to launch in the fall. Teen moms interested in the transitional housing program will need to complete a three-phase application process.

“It’s not just a resource center or a place for homeless girls and their babies, we built them a home,” said Oglesby-Henry. "It's a place for them to come feel protected, loved, and create family.” 

Rosemary’s Babies Co. continues to seek additional funding and community partners to expand its offerings.

The Holloway House & Resource Center is located at 3864 Reading Road.