“Everyone deserves to have a healthy pregnancy free of anxiety and worry. However, too many pregnant women in the communities we serve worry about where their next meal will come from, how they will stay housed, and if they will truly be able to provide for their unborn child.”
– Thana Hickman-Simmons, CEO and Founder
Our Story
Viola’s House was founded in 2008 with a vision to build villages, zip-code-by-zip-code, to create a legacy for sustainable motherhood. Since its inception, the organization has evolved into a leading nonprofit offering a wide array of programs and services aimed at addressing the non-medical drivers of health that are essential to improving maternal outcomes for underserved, pregnant and parenting individuals. Viola’s House programs help clients access safe, stable housing and nutritious food, develop vital skills in parenting, child development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and tap into partner resources to thrive in the communities where they live, work and are raising their families.
Residential Stability & Economic Mobility Program (Rooted and Rising) - According to the latest data from Youth.gov, nationally, among young people ages 18 to 25 who experience homelessness, 44 percent of the women are pregnant or mothers. Viola’s House’s Residential Stability and Economic Mobility Program (RSEM) is helping young mothers in Dallas and the surrounding communities move from homelessness to safe housing, steady income, and a thriving family life. RSEM is a place-based, evidence-informed transitional housing and wraparound services model to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and parenting teens and young adults who are unhoused. RSEM helps our clients transition into permanent housing while building the skills and insights needed to sustain their families. In addition to temporary housing, program support includes access to prenatal healthcare, employment search and job training, and access to transportation, daycare, nutritious food, and community-based resources. Viola's House welcomed 22 mothers and 13 newborns to the RSEM in 2025.
The Family Support & Maternal Health Access Program (Stable and Striving) - Social determinants of health, including socioeconomic status, education level, food security, housing stability, and access to healthcare, affect maternal health outcomes. These factors can significantly influence the health and well-being of pregnant individuals and their infants.The Family Support & Maternal Health Access Program (FSMHA) is designed to improve maternal outcomes by addressing the non-medical drivers of health through comprehensive care coordination and case management. FSMHA helps families access prenatal care, food assistance, public benefits, education, job training, housing resources and more. Through our mobile unit, we bring these services directly into the neighborhoods where families live, meeting moms (and dads!) where transportation and distance would otherwise stand in the way. Pregnant women and families parenting children aged 36 months and younger qualify for essential items like free diapers, wipes, and formula through this vital program centered around the whole person. Viola's House served over 6,915 clients via FSMHA in 2025.
Our Needs
Viola’s House is growing and so is the need. As we expand our reach, we rely on the generosity of donors, volunteers, and partners to sustain the programming that helps close critical socioeconomic gaps, leads to better maternal health outcomes and empowers young families to thrive in their communities. Approximately 80% of the funding we receive goes to programming. From supplying baby care essentials for pregnant teens and young mothers, to operating our mobile outreach units or providing transportation for moms to reach jobs and healthcare appointments, every dollar we receive is put to good use. Unrestricted donations that can be applied to general operating expenses are especially crucial at this time and no amount is too small.
Our mission is to help pregnant and parenting individuals achieve lifelong independence and resilience through stable housing and wraparound services that address the social determinants of health impacting maternal and infant outcomes.
1) One-time and monthly sustaining donations:
• $25 provides a week of diapers for a baby in our program.
• $50 helps a mom get to every prenatal appointment for a month with safe rides with no excuses and no missed checkups.
• $100 brings two weeks of healthy food to a mother in our Maternity Home.
• $250 supports a tank of gas for Rose, the VH mobile Unit connecting parents to vital resources across DFW.
2) Volunteers to fill a variety of needs including baby cuddlers and warehouse and logistics helpers
3) In-kind donations (diapers in any size; gift cards in any denomination; DART passes)
At Viola’s House, we believe that every pregnant and parenting individual—regardless of race, background, or circumstance—deserves access to safety, dignity, and opportunity. Equity is a foundational principle that guides our support for mothers and babies in underserved communities. Through intentional collaboration, compassionate care, and ongoing learning, we:
• Create programs and policies that eliminate barriers to maternal health and well being.
• Honor cultural identity and lived experience by fostering an environment of belonging.
• Advocate for systemic change that empowers young mothers to thrive, not just survive.
• Ensure our partnerships and practices reflect the diverse communities we serve.
Organization name
Viola's House
Tax id (EIN)
46-3200741
Causes
Housing, Shelter & Homelessness
Operating Budget
$3,000,000 - $9,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx
BIPOC Leadership
Both the Executive Director/CEO and Board Chair
Address
1819 MLK Blvd.