The Story of a Detroit Couple Who Raised Dozens of Foster Children
May 9, 2026
Stephen and Loretta Rodriguez spent decades opening their Detroit home to children in need of a safe and loving environment.
Having fostered between 60 and 70 children, the couple is now experiencing the compassion and kindness they have shown to so many, as their community rallies to support them in a time of need.
Photo by: WXYZ Detroit News 7
Stephen, 85, and Loretta, 79, have been married for 43 years. One of the many children they cared for is Shana Risby. Born to a mother who struggled with drug addiction, Risby was nurtured by the Rodriguezes from birth.
“I’m just grateful that I was raised by two people whose main purpose is to pour love,” Risby said.
Recently, the Rodriguezes faced a daunting challenge: the prospect of eviction.
Risby, now residing in California, was taken aback by news of her grandparents’ housing crisis.
“When they told me they were going to be evicted from their home, it was really shocking to me,” she remarked. “It’s something they’ve never experienced before.”
In response, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, led by Dr. Chad Audi, intervened. The organization provided the Rodriguezes with a fully furnished new home.
The new residence includes furnished bedrooms, a living room, dining room, and modern amenities such as a washer, dryer, and a stocked refrigerator. Most significantly, the Rodriguezes can live there rent-free for two years.
For Risby, helping her grandparents was deeply significant, allowing her to extend the same support they had once shown her.
