Robyn Sierks deeply understands the plight of women in a crisis pregnancy as a victim of rape at the age of 15.

Three months after the attack, Sierks discovered she was pregnant.

Despite the pressure from her parents to have an abortion, she decided to keep the baby.

"When I refused to have an abortion they kicked me out and I was living in a cardboard box in downtown Calgary," she explains.

While pregnant and living on the streets she was recommended to a maternity home by a stranger moved by her plight. It was there she gained the tools to start a new life, as staff helped her find a job and an apartment. 

For the last 3 months, the Christ-based maternity home has taken in young women experiencing a crisis pregnancy.

Now, more than 40 years later she's part of a new maternity home that's opened in Crystal City. Their hope is to provide another option for pregnant women considering abortion.

Sierks, together with her husband Marvin, live in the Hope Now Family Concepts home as Host Parents.

She says it's one thing to picket and lobby against abortion, but another to actually help young pregnant women.

"You can tell girls, "don't have an abortion" but then what option are you giving them?" she asks.

In 2016 with a major donation of $230,000 the project was pushed to completion. The home is located on a four acre property with five bedrooms for women in need.

"We just wanted to have a safe place where girls can come and just be at peace being pregnant, not being pressured by the outside world," Marvin says.

For the last 3 months, the Christ-based maternity home has taken in young women experiencing a crisis pregnancy.

Together the Sierks mentor and teach life skills like cooking, budgeting and parenting skills.

"And what is so cool is now I'm able to pass this forward," she says. "Because I know what it's like to walk in their shoes at 15 years old and be a single mom not knowing what to do, feeling lost and alone."

Even better, she says as a faith-based organization, they provide hope and reconciliation through Christ.

For Sierks, she credits her faith for the happy ending to her story. Now 41 years later, Sierks' son lives with, and is the primary caregiver of her mother; the same person who wanted the pregnancy aborted.

"I love the way God works," she says.

Moving forward, the community continues rally around the maternity home. Support is on-going for diapers, maternity clothes, car seats and other household necessities. Set on a four acre property, she says help with yard maintainance is also greatly appreciated.

To learn more, or to volunteer visit Hope Now Family Concepts online (http://www.hopenowfamilyconcepts.org/?page_id=33)

"We just wanted to have a safe place where girls can come and just be at peace being pregnant, not being pressured by the outside world."