HOUSE OF HOPE : Women’s Shelter Helps Families Get a New Start

Tijuana Ware, a 27-year-old single mother, now lives in a modest, low-cost apartment. But for her and her two children--Deon 7, and Semiya, 3--it’s an almost fairy-tale ending to a story that could have concluded with all of them living on the streets.

First, she suffered a back injury while working as a nurse’s aide, and that put her on disability. When the disability payments ended, she was unable to find good day care. Her roommates reneged on the rent.

“I went through my savings to make rent,” she said. “I used it all trying to save my apartment.”

She lost it and planned to move into a friend’s apartment, but the apartment manager would not allow children.

In desperation she looked in the Yellow Pages and found Women’s Care Cottage in North Hollywood.

“I just thank God that I was put in this place,” said Ware, who was accepted into the facility that was founded in 1990 to help women and children without homes.

“In Los Angeles County, there are from 20,000 to 100,000 homeless at any given time,” said Cynthia Caughey, executive director of the nonprofit facility. “Of these, 30% to 40% are women and children.”

An estimated 6,000 women and children are homeless in the San Fernando Valley, Caughey said.

The Women’s Care Cottage doesn’t fit the stereotype of a homeless shelter. The two-story home with a large leafy shade tree in front looks like any other well-kept residence. In the living room there is pastel upholstered furniture, an oak coffee table and fireplace. A carpeted staircase leads upstairs to four bedrooms with 15 beds and two bathrooms.

“My first day I cried a lot,” Ware said. “I never thought I’d get to the point of staying in a shelter. But I was glad I wasn’t going to be at a place with all beds and cots and stuff like that. I’m going to make sure I don’t ever do anything like this again. Makes me appreciate everything more.”

The cottage strives to meet the immediate needs of homeless women and children, providing basic necessities along with the resources to overcome their present situation.

“My biggest fear is being homeless again and letting my kids down.” said Ware. “ I don’t want to be bouncing from shelter to shelter. Here they show you how to be independent and help you stay upbeat and positive.”

Eventually, the staff helped her find an apartment and get back into school to finish her LVN training. They helped with moving and basic necessities.

Other organizations supplied two beds, a sofa and a refrigerator.

“It’s a new beginning and a chance to make a new life for my children and myself,” Ware said.