PHOTO BY GREG ROSENBERG

Friday, December 12, 2025; Sisters Haven Open House, 1986 W. 99^th Street: Sisters Haven’s founders Shena Maddox, Yvonne Murchison, and Julie Mallett are prepared to greet guests at the Open House for Sisters House, a residential home for pregnant or parenting women experiencing homelessness or crisis.

PHOTO BY GREG ROSENBERG

Friday, December 12, 2025; Sisters Haven Open House, 1986 W. 99^th Street: Nurses from MetroHealth Medical Center sit on the bed in one of seven bedrooms in Sisters Haven. MetroHealth Medical Center sponsored the fully designed makeover of this bedroom.

   (Plain Press January 2026) Cleveland’s newest home for pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness or crisis, Sisters Haven, hosted an open house and house blessing on December 12^th. The event featured the completely rehabilitated seven-bedroom Sisters Haven house at 1986 W. 99^th Street. Sisters Haven Co-founders Julie Mallett, Shena Maddox and Yvonne Murchison greeted the many guests attending the open house.

   Sisters Haven’s Co-Founders used the Open House to launch the Dream Bedroom Makeover competition. Community partners called Dream Teams worked to each fully design one of the seven bedrooms in the house. Those visiting the Open House and community members viewing online photos of the rooms were invited to vote on the best bedroom design. Each person casting a vote was asked to donate to support Sisters Haven. The website message to donors was “Where creativity meets compassion – make a difference one vote at a time.”

   The bedrooms featured a bed, a crib, various colorful bedspreads and pillows, decorative art, and some rooms even had diaper changing tables. The Dream Team winning the bedroom design competition was OH So Delta Designs. They received 5,213 votes.

   The other six Dream Teams were: RE/MAX Crossroads (Mary Frances Weir and Sophia Hanson); C& S Foundation; RE/MAX Crossroads (Kristine Kerber); Lovely Paperie & Gifts; Sapphire Pear Interior Design Studio; and MetroHealth Nurse Family Partnership.

   The three co-founders will be involved in the operation of Sisters Haven. Jullie Mallett will serve as Director of Development. Shena Maddox will serve as Executive Director of Management. Yvonne Murchison will serve as Executive Director of Operations.

   Co-Founder and Director of Development Julie Mallett said, “Opening Sisters Haven is a milestone made possible by love, prayer, and a community that believes in the dignity of every mother and child. The Dream Bedroom Makeover provides a beautiful way for people to participate. Every vote is a welcome gift to the moms and babies who will soon call this place home.”

   The Co-Founders noted the community-built transformation of the house on W. 99^th Street in the Cudell neighborhood. A statement from Sisters Haven said, “Local contractors, businesses, churches, and volunteers have poured their time and talent into creating this healing home, showcased through seven stunning Dream Bedroom Makeover designs.”

   Sisters Haven plans to be open before Christmas of 2025 to begin serving pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness or crisis.

   Sisters Haven founders say the home will help fill a critical gap in services in Cleveland where there are “very few housing options for pregnant women in crisis. Sisters Haven offers dignity, stability and hope to women who urgently need support.”

   Chris Knestrick, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, confirms that statement saying: “Sadly, there are too few housing options for pregnant women experiencing homelessness in our community. The arrival of Sisters Haven will be a lifesaving option for pregnant women who are sleeping on the streets of Cleveland. Providing a therapeutic and caring space for these women brings us one step closer to ending homelessness.”

   Sisters Haven describes itself as a Cleveland-based nonprofit providing safe housing and a supportive community for pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness or lacking a reliable support system. Rooted in dignity, love, and community, Sisters Haven empowers mothers to build stable, thriving futures for themselves and their children. Learn more at www.sisters-haven.org.