Groundbreaking Held for Homeless Women’s Project

The groundbreaking for a housing facility and service center for homeless women and children was celebrated Monday morning at its future site just west of downtown.

The Women’s Village, at 1650 Rockwood Blvd., is a $10.5-million project of the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women, a Catholic nonprofit group.

The village will provide transitional housing for single women and permanent housing for disabled homeless women with children, said Carolyn Ludwig, president of the board of directors of Good Shepherd.

In addition, there will be a coffee shop and thrift shop where the women can learn job skills.

“We hope to better serve the homeless women in our community,” said Sister Julia Mary, the director and founder of Good Shepherd. “We want to help them return to the mainstream.”

Funding for the Women’s Village was provided by the federal Housing and Urban Development Department’s supportive housing program, the Los Angeles city Housing Department and the Dan Murphy Foundation.

In addition, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters will donate $1 million in labor and materials.