Casa de Acogida Belén
Our Belén Shelter (Casa de Acogida Belén) was founded over 17 years ago in response to the needs of families who had to travel to the capital of the O’Higgins Region to access highly complex medical treatments. In the beginning, this service was provided in the homes of supporters; however, for the past year, we have had a specially equipped space to welcome and walk alongside those in need.
Currently, we work in direct collaboration with the Regional Hospital of Rancagua, specifically with the Maternal-Fetal team in the area of Spina Bifida. This team performs highly specialized surgery, operating on babies while they are still in the womb to treat this genetic spinal malformation. Over the years, the professionals in charge have become national and international leaders in the field, receiving families from all over Chile and abroad who travel to our region to access this life- changing treatment.
At the Belén Shelter, we provide free accommodation and comprehensive support to the family members of mothers undergoing this intervention with their babies. During their stay, families are provided with:
A dignified space to rest.
All meals during their stay.
Access to essential services like hot water, electricity, internet, and laundry facilities.
Our house has the capacity to host up to 16 people daily, with an average stay of three weeks. However, some families face post-surgical medical complications, which has extended their stay to more than two months in certain cases.
The families we welcome come from various regions throughout Chile. Most of them have limited financial resources and are treated within the public health system. Without our shelter, many of these families would be forced to sleep in hospital chairs and bear the full cost of their meals throughout the treatment, making an already difficult process even more overwhelming.
