Saving Grace NWA recently completed renovations on its nearly 50-acre ranch on the outskirts of Bentonville, giving the nonprofit more room to house young women aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness.

The nonprofit, which supports women ages 18–25, purchased the property in 2021 with a long-term goal of housing up to 50 women at a time.

The year-long renovation project expanded the property's main house from 8,000 to 10,000 square feet. The updated home now includes 18 bedrooms, a large kitchen, a pool, and ample common areas designed for shared living.

The interior is modern and thoughtfully designed, with brand-new furnishings donated by community members. Set in the middle of an expansive field, the residence is surrounded by open space, a large pond and multiple outdoor sitting areas.

"We wanted to do transitional living, but we didn't want it to look like all the other transitional living facilities," said Becky Shaffer, Saving Grace's founder and executive director. "We still are in major crisis in this country with our kids that are aging out (of foster care), and if all of us were doing it better, it probably wouldn't be quite the crisis that it is."

The nonprofit currently houses 10 women at the ranch. While a few women still live in a smaller cottage on the property, most of the women moved into the main home a month ago.

Shaffer founded Saving Grace in 2009 after she and her husband spent 18 years fostering children in their home while also raising three biological daughters.

Having grown up in foster care herself since the age of 12, Shaffer understood firsthand the uncertainty many young adults face when aging out of the system. While attending college, Shaffer had nowhere to go when the dorms closed, and often went days without eating when the school's cafeteria shut down on weekends.

"I went to college mostly because I needed a place to live," Shaffer said. "When the cafeteria was closed, I didn't eat. When I was in that situation, I went almost immediately into survival."

At Saving Grace, women receive individualized support designed to help them heal from trauma, build healthy relationships and create long-term stability. The program provides housing, counseling, life-skills training, education, employment support and mentorship, with a focus on lasting growth rather than short-term assistance. The women are not allowed to be on any type of government assistance program while living at Saving Grace.

"The best way to break the cycle of poverty is actually get off government assistance and start doing things for yourself," Shaffer said.

They learn skills such as how to budget their money, drive, set boundaries in relationships and take care of a home. Continued education is encouraged, whether that's getting a GED or attending a college or vocational program. The women garden, attend group classes and take part in equine therapy with horses that live on the ranch.

Saving Grace is faith-based, but Shaffer said participation in the program is not tied to any religious requirements, and residents are encouraged to explore faith and personal growth on their own terms.

In the Saving Grace program, participants work through six phases with a graduation ceremony upon completion. Most of the women participate in the program for two to four years.

Shaffer is looking toward the next phase of Saving Grace's growth. The program receives around 250 applications a year and is currently looking at applications to fill more of the 29 bedrooms onsite.

Future plans include the addition of 22 tiny homes on the property that will allow participants to practice independent living in their own space, completing the vision of housing up to 50 women at a time.

Shaffer also envisions a building at the front of the property that would function as a tea room and storefront where participants can gain job experience, while also serving as a gathering space for classes and community programming.

Saving Grace does not pursue government grants and relies primarily on support from individual donors, which allows the organization to have greater flexibility in how it structures and operates its programs, Shaffer explained. Ways to support Saving Grace include donations and volunteer or mentorship opportunities.

"These girls, even though they're adults at 18 to 25 years old, the soul of a child is still living inside of them, and they need people to show up for them," Shaffer said.