In the District’s most under-resourced wards, a teen mother facing homelessness isn’t just losing a roof; she’s losing the ability to dream. Healthy Babies Project (HBP) interrupts this cycle for youth ages 16–21 through a continuum of care that moves from crisis to independence. It begins at Muriel House, a 90-day crisis shelter offering the safety and structure young parents need to move out of “survival mode.” The Life Empowerment Program then serves both pregnant and non-pregnant youth, building self-efficacy and health. HBP is also rebuilding its long-term shelter in Northeast DC to provide up to two years of transitional housing—a permanent sanctuary where young families can stabilize, graduate, and transition into self-sufficiency. The results are life-changing: 100% of pregnant youth deliver healthy babies. More importantly, they leave with the confidence to pursue their ambitions.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 7

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide

Age Groups Served: Infants (0-2); Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49)

Ethnic Groups Served: African American; Asian American; Caucasian; Latino/Hispanic

Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Women/Girls

Schools They Work In: Anacostia; Ballou; Cardozo; Springarn

Awards & Recognition

Jamacian Women's Association, 2009 Breath of Life Campaign Grantee

Press

  • Healthy Babies Project Nominated for 2011 CLASSY Award
    Wed Jun 22 2011, HBP ENews  
    Healthy Babies Project has been nominated for a 2011 CLASSY Award, which recognizes top philanthropic achievements by charities nationwide.
    connect here

Budget (FY2026)

  • $3 million or higher
  • The current budget for Healthy Babies Project is: $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Every year, 190+ local nonprofits (with budgets under $4M) apply to join the Spur Local network. 170+ community volunteers assess these applications for impact. 100% of organizations are site visited and financially reviewed. Finally, 76+ critical, local nonprofits are selected for inclusion in Spur Local's annual print and digital catalog, and enter a four-year partnership with us. Since 2003, we have raised over $65 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region. We charge no fees and raise funds separately to support our work.

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