The House of Grace Trust Fund

Supporting young mums, their tamariki and whānau.

The idea for The House of Grace Trust first came to founders Treena and the late Marcus van Rijssel after taking a young mum into their home. They quickly discovered the lack of other options for women in the same position. 

In contrast to the isolated and often institution-like homes of the past, Treena and Marcus wanted to provide a family, home-based environment that gave young women the chance to build key life skills, prepare to be the best possible mothers, gain confidence and access support as they navigated this significant life change.

Across the trust's two homes, The House of Grace provided safe and loving environments for over 250 young women as they prepared for birth, cared for their newborns and set up a foundation for successful lives. 

After one of The House of Grace’s homes was sold in 2025, the board established The House of Grace Trust Fund with Nīkau Foundation to build a reliable source of funding, decrease reliance on fundraising and ensure its story could continue. Future grants distributed from The House of Grace Trust Fund will support young mums to pursue educational or personal development opportunities, fund practical everyday needs and unlock support for those caring for teenage or young mums.

Every dollar donated to The House of Grace Trust Fund will be invested, grown and protected to support young mums, their tamariki and whānau long into the future.