A Place to Belong: The True Story of a Teen Mom, a Humbling Leadership Journey, and a House Called Hope

Dec 1

We’re excited to feature A Place to Belong by Lisa Steven, Executive Director of Hope House Colorado, in this month’s Recommended Reading list. Lisa’s deeply personal and inspiring story of transformation, service, and leadership offers powerful insight into the journey from vulnerability to empowerment, as well as the remarkable impact of thoughtful, supportive housing and community programs.

What the Book Covers
In this narrative, Lisa Steven chronicles her own experience as a teen mom, how she found purpose in helping other young mothers, and how she went on to co-found Hope House Colorado in 2003. Her book details the challenges faced by teen mothers, including the risks of homelessness and generational poverty, and shows how one organization built a “house called hope” where young mothers and their children could find safe lodging, guidance, education, and a new path forward.

Why It Aligns with HomeAid’s Mission
At HomeAid America, our mission is to build new lives for individuals and families experiencing homelessness through housing and community outreach. The story in A Place to Belong closely intersects with this mission. By highlighting how housing and supportive services can change the trajectory of at-risk young families, the book emphasizes that shelter is only one piece of the solution; the surrounding community, mentoring, education, and opportunity are just as crucial.

Furthermore, HomeAid Colorado has partnered with Hope House on multiple occasions, including the development of their resource center in Denver, making this book a meaningful read for our network. The work of Hope House mirrors the collaborative building-industry partnerships we champion, combining nonprofit vision, construction expertise, and community support to create housing that transforms lives.

For Families, Volunteers & Staff

A great read for volunteers and staff who serve at-risk mothers and families: Lisa’s story offers both inspiration and practical lessons.
For families and educators: this book opens avenues to discuss topics of housing stability, empowerment, and community support with older teens and young adults.
For those in the building industry or nonprofit outreach, the book offers insight into how mission-driven housing projects emerge from partnership, passion, and purpose.

A Place to Belong is a compelling testament to the power of hope-filled housing, community, and transformation. We highly recommend it to everyone in our HomeAid community staff, affiliates, volunteers, and supporters alike, as it underscores why we build, whom we build for, and how each home, program, and partnership can create lasting change.