Home in Reserve (HaBait BeMiluim)

Home in Reserve (HaBait BeMiluim) A National Mission to Empower the Families Behind the Front LinesHome in Reserve: A National Mission to Empower Wives and Families of Reservists Home in Reserve is an emergency initiative launched by HaBait - Empowering Families, following the outbreak of Israel’s Iron Swords War. In response to direct appeals from grassroots networks of women whose spouses serve in the military, we swiftly redirected our operations to provide immediate, tailored support to thousands of wives and families of reservists. Our team mobilized rapidly, training dozens of dedicated volunteer family counselors. Today, these volunteers are already supporting over 100 families. The urgency of our mission has only intensified following the confrontation with Iran and the prolonged extension of reserve service, which have dramatically increased the emotional, financial, and physical toll on the wives and families of reservists. With over 150,000 families in Israel affected by extended reserve duty, thousands are experiencing acute personal and familial stress, posing a serious risk to the cohesion and resilience of Israeli society. Behind every soldier on the front lines stands a family, often a young spouse or parent, carrying the weight of daily life alone. These families silently bear the hidden costs of national security: children struggling with anxiety and behavioral regression, strained relationships, and lost livelihoods. Many spouses have been forced to pause or abandon careers to care for their children, sacrificing professional growth and future aspirations.  Supporting these women and families is a moral and national imperative. Our vision is to provide ongoing support and guidance to 2,000 wives and families of reservists each year. To realize this, we must significantly expand our training capacity, preparing 1,000 new volunteer family counselors in the coming months, and recruiting dozens of expert professionals to provide them with the necessary supervision and tools. This ambitious goal is driven by the overwhelming demand we are seeing in the field- families that are reaching out for the lifeline that this program offers. • About HaBait – Empowering Families Founded in 2021, HaBait - Empowering Families is a nonprofit that provides holistic, professional support to middle-class families across Israel. Our mission is to strengthen the very backbone of Israeli society, the working families who serve and contribute every day through volunteer-driven, evidence-based counseling and guidance rooted in psychology, social work, and education. Since October 7th, in response to emergency requests from women’s networks, our focus has shifted to supporting families of reservists. Our core goal is to help these families regain stability, restore their inner strength, and continue building their lives. National Commitment to those who Serve Investing in the wellbeing of wives and families of reservists is not just the right thing to do, it is a strategic investment in Israel’s social and national resilience. Our program is already active on the ground, providing six months of continuous family support across six key areas: parenting, couplehood, financial stability, career development, emotional resilience, and personal empowerment. Each family is matched with a trained volunteer family counselor who meets with them bi-weekly and maintains regular contact throughout the program. These family counselors receive extensive training and ongoing support from psychologists, social workers, and family professionals. Families in acute distress are referred to specialized mental health services as needed. Participants consistently describe the family counsellorship experience as transformative, highlighting the practical tools, emotional support, and compassionate guidance they receive. A Proven Impactful Model                                                                                                                                 Our approach is grounded in the concept of family resilience, a family’s ability to function in daily life and during crises, adapt to change, and emerge stronger. Research shows that support of this kind improves communication, decision- making, parent-child relationships, emotional stability, and overall family cohesion. The model emphasizes the critical role of civil society in moments of national crisis. Israeli citizens, trained and empowered, can be a powerful force in supporting one another and rebuilding from within. All volunteer family counselors receive comprehensive training and are closely supported by professionals throughout the process. Families in need of clinical or therapeutic intervention are referred accordingly. Our impact is being professionally evaluated by the University of Haifa's Center for Sustainability. The research confirms both the short and long-term effectiveness of our family support model and guides us toward continuous improvement. From Emergency Response to Long-Term Infrastructure In the past year, we have trained 150 volunteer family counselors and launched operations in both northern and southern Israel. Over 110 families are already enrolled. By the end of 2025, we will reach 300 families. In 2026, we will expand to serve 1,000 more. 1,300 families, touching the lives of more than 6,000 individuals, will have received direct support. Thousands more extended family members, friends, and community members will benefit from the ripple effect of this intervention. Yet the need far exceeds current capacity. Our goal is to provide ongoing support to 2,000 families every year, impacting more than 9,000 individuals, by training an additional 1,000 volunteer family counselors and expanding our network of professional content experts. Together, we will create a nationwide human safety net for Israel's future. Laying the Groundwork for Systemic Change Our work is more than a crisis response; it’s a blueprint for long-term societal resilience. We are building sustainable support structures within communities, reducing long-term social costs, and empowering thousands of individuals to reclaim their emotional and economic stability. This strengthens not only families but also Israel’s social fabric and national security. Join the Mission- Be a Partner in Rebuilding Lives Stand with us. Become a partner in national recovery. Your support will help ensure that the wives and families of those defending our country get the life-changing assistance they so urgently need. Together, we can restore stability, resilience, and hope, preserving the strength and unity of Israeli society.