Emmanuel's Heart began its work in Guatemala by providing crisis housing for women and children in need. Although many orphanages exist which are able to take in children, there are few ministries that address the needs of women and their children. Therefore, a sick or abandoned mother may only be left with a choice of abandoning her children or turning to prostitution to feed them. Every orphanage has dealt with the distraught mother who is giving away her children because she sees no other way to feed them. In addition to sick or abandoned women, Emmanuel's Heart seeks to serve women and children escaping violent and abusive living conditions, women and children being pushed into prostitution or attempting to escape prostitution, widows, pregnant and teen mothers and other crisis situations where an otherwise stable family environment is possible. Emmanuel's Heart seeks to meet the needs of these families, families in a state of crisis who risk being torn apart but lack only resources and support in order to stay together.