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 The city of Bat Yam has a population of approximately 130,000 and, due to extreme growth during hard economic times in the 1970s and 1980s, is synonymous with urban decay, poor sanitation, extreme poverty, and high levels of crime and drug abuse. According to the latest census by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, 26% of Bat Yam's families live below the poverty line. Persistent problems associated with the extreme poverty and deprivation found in Bat Yam tragically include child neglect and, in extreme cases, abuse.
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Building on the effectiveness of the Crisis Intervention Center, the Institute opened a residential facility in the city of Bat Yam named Beit Sabenu Moshe. The center provides a "Home" for Bat Yam children unable to reside with their parents due to a dysfunctional family dynamic.
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 Unlike the Crisis Intervention Center -developed to help children in unexpected crises- Bait Sabenu Moshe treats children whose home situation inhibits their development. The children are removed from the environment for a period of 3-4 years in order to facilitate the child's growth and for his/her parents to receive parenting counseling and family therapy. The goal of the Facility is to actively treat children and their parents, simultaneously, so the family unit will ultimately be restored and the children will return home.
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The Bat Yam Facility is solely for children residing in Bat Yam and referred to the Institute by the Bat Yam Department of Welfare. Keeping the children in their community is vital as it allows them to continue studying at their schools, see their friends, and participate in family therapy sessions. Children range between 6-10 years of age and there is provision to care for up to eight children at any one time.
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