A quiet place to breathe: New nurseries bring comfort to shelter moms

TAMPA - Metropolitan Ministries has opened two trauma sensitive nurseries inside its family residential shelters.

The spaces are designed to give new moms privacy, dignity, and peace while caring for their babies.

In a quiet corner of the family residential shelter, Keishawn Simpson rocks her one-month-old daughter, Jane, while her nine-year-old son plays nearby. For her, the nursery is more than just a room. 

What they're saying:

"When I first came here and checked it out, and I first sat in this chair, the comfortability of this chair, it felt like all the weight was off my shoulders and all of my problems was gone," she says, describing the relief of finally having a calm place to breastfeed and bond with her baby.

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Metropolitan Ministries President and CEO Dr. Sarah Combs says that sense of relief is exactly the point. "We provide a space that feels warm and inviting and dignified. We want our moms to be able to come into this space and feel like they’re loved, and there’s a special place for them to be calm," Combs explains.

Dig deeper:

The nonprofit has opened two nurseries specifically for clients who are pregnant or parenting young children. 

Each space is trauma sensitive and designed with natural light, rocking chairs, books, and small play areas for older siblings.

Families can use the nurseries for feeding, soothing, reading, or simply stepping away from the noise that often comes with shared living spaces. 

The rooms also offer breastfeeding support and education on healthy sleep habits, helping parents build confidence as they work toward stable housing.

For moms like Quanshae Howard, who stays at the shelter with her young daughters, the nursery offers something simple but powerful: a place where her children can play, and she can find a moment of peace.