Safe · Supported · Empowered
Where every girl will find her fit
A state-approved home for unhoused girls ages 13–21 in Philadelphia — founded by Cynthia Baines, a nurse, mother, and lifelong advocate who turned a nickname into a mission.
More than just a place to stay, you'll find a community that sees you, supports you, and believes in your potential. We are committed to providing a nurturing environment where every girl feels valued, respected, and encouraged to discover her strengths.
Whether you're here for a short time or a longer journey, know this — you belong. You are part of a legacy built on care, resilience, and hope. We're excited to walk alongside you as you take your next steps.
We are a personal, intentional alternative to the typically larger, less personal group home. We specialize in the ability to provide a high level of care in a small, home-like setting — where every girl is known by name, not by number.
Every space was thoughtfully created — comfortable, warm, and designed for the girls in our care.
Three core programs work together to help each girl stabilize, heal, and step confidently into her future.
A real, structured home — not just a placement. Girls live in a warm, safe space where they are seen and valued every day.
With the nurse present five days out of the week, girls receive health education, sexual health support, hygiene coaching, nutrition guidance, chronic condition management, support during grief, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm. This is the kind of wrap-around care that changes lives.
The practical tools and real confidence to take on adulthood — at any age, at any pace.
Most group homes feel like programs. We feel like family. Warmth, belonging, and emotional safety are built into the environment — not added on as an afterthought.
We do not use physical restraints, seclusion, or isolation — ever. Our staff are trained in relationship-based intervention, emotional regulation, crisis communication, and restorative conversations. Girls learn to trust again because they are never handled like a problem.
Our founder didn't just study this work — she lived it, overcame it, and built a life of leadership and compassion. That authenticity is rare, and it shapes everything we do.
Many group homes are overcrowded or understaffed. We intentionally keep our home small, highly supervised, and deeply personalized. Every girl is known by name, story, and need — not by case number.
We don't just house girls — we prepare them for life: budgeting, communication, hygiene and self-care, job readiness, emotional intelligence, and healthy relationships. This is the difference between surviving and thriving.
We support reunification, family healing, community involvement, school success, and mentorship. Girls stay connected to the world, not isolated from it.
Our philosophy is simple: be kind, be safe, be accountable, belong. This culture is consistent, predictable, and healing — especially for girls who've never had that before.
Our director is not a distant administrator. She is present, hands-on, accessible, compassionate, and a steady, nurturing figure for every girl in our care. That presence changes outcomes.
Cynthia Baines is affectionately known as The Lady in the Shoe — a name that reflects her own journey of figuring things out against the odds. She became a mother at fifteen and didn't finish school until she was thirty, going on to raise eleven children, two through foster care, and put eight of them through college.
In 2016, she became a nurse, later earning her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and working as a psychiatric nurse in a hospital crisis response center. That clinical background, paired with a lifetime of raising children through hardship and triumph, is what shapes the way this home is run today.
Her actual actions speak louder than anything she could promise. This home is not built on credentials alone — it is built on a life fully lived, and a woman who refused to give up on herself or anyone else.
Small and intentional by design — every girl is known by name, not treated as a case number.
A founder who has guided children through school, hardship, and into successful adulthood — again and again.
Crisis-response experience gives our home a clinical edge most group homes simply don't have.
Every program here reflects what has already worked — for her own children, and now for every girl in our care.
A family united by purpose — bringing professional expertise, compassion, and lived experience to every girl in our care.
"This is more than a home — it is a family legacy built on love, service, and an unwavering belief in every girl's potential."
The Baines Family · Founders of The Lady in the Shoe
"I was the lady in the shoe who had to learn what to do. My actions and what I have done are more significant than anything I might say or promise — and I promise you, I will never stop."
— Cynthia Baines, BSN-RN · Founder, The Lady in the Shoe
Whether you're a girl in need, a case worker making a referral, or a concerned family member — we are here. The Lady in the Shoe is currently accepting new residents ages 13–21.
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Structure, consistency, and warmth — every day is designed to help our girls feel safe, supported, and prepared for life.
Everything case workers, families, and community partners need to know.
Our program serves unhoused girls between the ages of 13 and 21 in the Philadelphia area. We work closely with DHS and other referral agencies to identify and place girls who need a safe, stable, nurturing home environment.
We accept referrals from DHS, social workers, case managers, schools, and community organizations. Simply call us at (215) 933-0505 or (267) 730-5573, or fill out our contact form. We respond promptly and guide you through the full state intake process.
We are state-approved for 10 or more girls at a time. Each resident receives individualized support through her own care plan, developed in collaboration with her case worker and our founder Cynthia Baines.
Placement is coordinated through DHS and state-approved funding. There is no direct cost to families. Contact us or your DHS case worker to learn how placement and funding works for your situation.
We are committed to keeping every girl in school and on track academically. We provide homework help, school enrollment assistance, and transportation support so education stays a priority throughout her stay.
Length of stay is determined case-by-case in coordination with DHS and the resident's care team. Our goal is always to provide stability for as long as each girl needs it, while working toward a safe permanent living situation.
Our girls arrive with very little. Your generosity — whether clothing, household items, or a financial gift — makes a direct difference in a girl's life.
We gladly accept clean, gently used or new clothing for girls ages 13–21 — all seasons, all sizes.
New or gently used items go directly to making our residents feel at home and ready for life.
Every dollar goes directly to our residents — meals, clothing, school trips, and emergency needs.
To donate by phone
(215) 933-0505Or by email
About@theladyintheshoe.comAll donations go directly to the girls in our care. Thank you for your generosity.
Schools, churches, businesses, and community groups are welcome to partner with us.
