Built from Personal Loss and a Lifelong Longing

The moment life falls apart should never be the moment a family discovers they have no one nearby to trust, lean on, or turn to for help. When our mom passed away at only 40, our family learned that truth the hard way.

She left six children behind. I was 19. Michele was only 4. Between us were four more siblings, each one trying to understand a loss too large to comprehend. We had just moved from Illinois, where family was close enough to lean on, to New Orleans, where we knew no one.

That loss taught us something we have never forgotten: when life falls apart, what holds you together is not a program or a policy — it is people. Neighbors who show up. Friends who stay. A community that refuses to let you disappear into your grief alone.

After more than 20 years of helping three generations of families make housing decisions, I have seen the same need again and again: families overwhelmed by major transitions, seniors targeted by scammers, parents searching for dependable help, and people of every age longing to feel safe and supported.

Porchaven™ is our answer. It's a new kind of multigenerational, front-porch community designed to help neighbors get to know one another, build trusted support over time, share daily life in nature and wellness, and help people of every age feel at home.