Lamb of God Maternity Home, which opened its doors in 2013, is capable of housing up to six women in crisis pregnancies who are willing to consider placing their child for open adoption. While residing at a 5,500-square-foot private home in Escondido, residents are typically expected to spend their days at work, at school, or enrolled in programs or classes that will prepare them for successful lives beyond the maternity home.

However, the statewide stay-at-home order issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic shook up the household routine, keeping residents from attending anything except essential appointments.

Also, as a direct result of the pandemic, the maternity home has been forced to furlough staff members and to indefinitely postpone its fourth Annual Spaghetti Dinner, its largest fundraising event of the year, which had been scheduled for May 23 and was expected to bring in up to $200,000.

But along with all of this, there was a flood at Lamb of God Maternity Home on March 20, which added “another layer of stress” to an already trying situation, said Program Manager Laura Ardito.

It was the second flood in a matter of weeks and even damaged repairs that were made after the first flood. The three residents and four staff members then at the house were displaced; at the same time, the house had been preparing to welcome two more residents, who were self-isolating for two weeks in preparation for joining the household.

Lamb of God Maternity Home found itself in a difficult position — and at the worst possible time. In an email to supporters, it requested recommendations for an Airbnb that could accommodate its residents and house manager while the repairs were taking place and for monetary donations that could help pay for those repairs.

In response to this, Ardito said, came “a flood of help.” The women were housed at a small Airbnb that very night and, within four days, a larger one was made available to them at a reduced rate. Five residents, along with Ardito and a week-end staff member, stayed at the second Airbnb until April 22, when they were able to return to the maternity home…

The above comes from an April 27 story in San Diego’s Southern Cross.