Homeless Shelter for Women 18-100

Safe Harbor Sanctuary (Tax ID 81-2667594) is an agency that works with homeless women come off of the streets out of homelessness. Many are victims of mental illness, addiction, domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking. We are working hard to become the first plant based shelter in the nation. Feeding the body, mind, and soul to become whole again and re-enter society to take their place feeling whole. Dignity and self- respect are our goals for them to be restored to each beautiful creature who walks through our doors and walk out change in every single way possible. A new creature!!!!!

Visit our website to learn more about Safe Harbor Sanctuary and all we can help you with or a loved one. Just click the link below to be taken to our website.

https://safeharborsanctuary.wixsite.com/safeharborsanctuary

We are in the middle of a crunch to raise funding to open an emergency crisis & year around shelter for women in  south central Los Angeles and southern California. Last year there were 10 Shelters in this area that housed men and women, no Teens. I worked the graveyard personally in one of the Co-Ed Shelters. This year 2017/18 winter period there will be 4 fewer shelters open for emergency winter housing as well as year-round shelters. We can not allow this to happen. NO Women 18 and up should ever be on the street!!!! We have a potential building promised for use as a shelter which can be hard to find because of the demographics of our clientele. This building is perfect for all we need it to be. Please donate today!!! We need everyone who has a passion for helping others to help us!!!
We are doing all we can to help women come off the street and when we have a commitment from them to come off the street we call to find them a bed and none can be found. Enough is enough!! We can do this and I need your help. I have over 35 years of working with homeless outreach as well as work as a social worker for foster care. I am a clinical personality psychologist with a passion and drive to end homelessness for girls and women nationwide but have to start first in my own backyard. Mental health is my work and many of our clients are battling mental health disease from mild to acute disorders and some even dual disorders.  I am an ordained ministers and a registered nurses daughter. I was raised to give back and take care of those who cannot care for themselves. They will have their basic crisis needs met the moment they walk through our doors with love and compassion. A warm smile and loving staff will greet them, their immediate needs will be accessed at intake. A warm meal,  warm beverage, water or ice cold fresh lemonade will await them. A warm shower,  clean clothes, and a warm clean bed will await them. Each girl or woman will be assigned a case manager who is kind, loving and compassionate. Depending on their needs, we will pair them with an expert that can address mental health, sobriety, domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking. No women will be turned away if we can help we will take them in and first help them feel safe and have their basic needs accessed and met. Compassion and kindness are mandatory by all staff or volunteer regardless of their position or job description.

My Grandparents started a business when I was born that was located on western ave & 54th street in south central Los Angeles over 50 years ago.  My son's father's side of the family also has a business on the same street feet away from where my grandparents had our family business. The goal is to stay in the community where I grew up and give back and later open more shelters and transitional housing around the nation. Sadly there are too many homeless to count literally feet from where I played and worked in the family business as a child and teen.

Now we have been given an opportunity to lease a building for this purpose but that is only the beginning. We need plant based food, canned vegetables, fruit and non perishables, beds, blankets, pillows, women's new and gently used clothing, brand new undergarments, industrial stove, large refrigerators, freezers, industrial dishwasher, dishes, pots and pans, paper goods, a portable showers unit, washers and dryers,  tables, chairs, and other supplies needed in order to open the doors. We have to be open a certain period of time in order to qualify for funding from the city, county, and state as well as to apply for federal funding. Meanwhile, in order to open the doors, we have to fundraise and seek sponsors, private investors as well as  private donors to get the ball rolling and open the doors. I can not take another moment of girls and women vulnerable on the streets of Los Angeles.

Meet Ms. Joyce, in september of 2015, I met her on the street near my own home. She was a sweet, soft spoken little lady age of 65 or 70 so I thought. The life can age you so she was 56, only 4 years my Senior. I be-friended her because I saw she was alone and suffering from severe schizophrenia. There were other homeless near my home where Joyce was but she was different. No substance abuse issues or any other obvious signs of why she might be on the street alone.  As a mental health professional, I saw she was sick and began to help her on my own, out of my own pocket I began feeding and clothing her. When I cooked I made a plate and took it to her. We sat and people watched and had girl chit chat. She was just different and spoke to my heart. One Friday night she and I at Jack In The Box, after 6 months a breakthrough....she has a lucid moment and is able to give me her daughter's name and a phone number. She rattled it off so effortlessly I felt finally a real number she knew, now was it still her daughter's number. By sunday morning we had our answer...

One late night my son brought me some food as I was up working late. I could not eat it because I am a strict vegan now from being a vegetarian. The food had pork on it which is forbidden to me due to religious observance. It was too late to take it back so he said I will take it outside to the homeless person on the sidewalk. I said great that is perfect. Still hot he took the food out. When he came back I asked did they eat it. He says I don't know they were just laying there. I asked did he think they were alive. He said yes they made noise when I touched them to alert I was placing food next to them.

Suddenly I felt God telling me to go check to see if it was Ms. Joyce. I was obedient and went to check, it was and she was in horrible shape. She was dying right before my eyes.  What I did not know at the time she had passed out from her blood sugar diabetes going haywire and she had not eaten or had any water in a couple of days. I rushed to my car and got a couple of bottles of water. She was too weak to open them. So I sat down next to her and opened them and pulled out the food so she could begin to eat.

I could tell she was very sick and I called 911 to get her to the hospital. Well, she was not having that, I convinced her to let them come at least check her out....she said ok. I called the police too at that moment to see if, with all my background and knowledge I could backdoor her into a shelter. I found out that night there is not one, not one 24 hour women's shelter that will intake women after 10 pm unless they are domestic violence victims in all of Los Angeles county.  Yes, you see right not one!!! That was absolutely shocking to me!!! I vowed at that moment if any women needed shelter under my watch they would have it and we would open a 24-hour shelter for Women to take in any and all  Women who need shelter regardless of the hour ages 18-100. It is the midnight hour when people need help sometimes when in crisis. Crisis does not always fall between 9-5 or only up to 10 pm. We will be open 24 hours to receive any woman who is in need of help even if to offer a kind smile,  hot cup of hot chocolate or ice cold glass of our famous lemonade, a meal and shelter till we can make other arrangements if we are full. No woman will ever be turned away ever. We can always offer Safety and Shelter first and foremost!!!
Street outreach showing compassion, love and sharing resources with this sweet soul.....took her a while but she did finally asked for help.  She is off the streets and doing well.

Ms. Joyce ate while I waited, and waited and waited for the paramedics and police. 45 minutes passed neither came or came to render aid. Paramedics called when they got lost 10 miles away from our location. I was so frustrated I just looked up and began to pray Lord show me how to help my sister, she is alone and like a child and I can not leave her. Lord, please tell me what to do.  By then I stabilized her and got her blood sugar up and she was able to walk with her to the bus bench.  I said Lord I hear you and I will stay with her. She laid down and went to sleep where all of the fumes from the cars and busses blew in her face. I looked down the street at my home and called my son to tell him I would be at the bus Stop all night while Ms. Joyce got some sleep.

You see I could not leave her, literally could not leave her she was alone, sick and had no one to look after her.  A friend called late as she was driving back from an out of town meeting. She was surprised I was wide awake at this point it was 2:30 am. I let her in on what I was doing. Her response was you're telling me you are sitting outside at a bus stop watching a homeless woman sleep the middle of the night in south LA. I said yes mame, God said to stay there and I am obedient.

This is Ms. Joyce in her spot at a bus stop she felt safest at the intersection of two main streets where it was well lite. Yes, this was where I sat all night long to make sure she did not have another seizure and slept soundly. That night she was helpless as a 2-year-old child. Could you have left a 2-year-old alone to care for themselves? She was sick, alone and needed help....that night I was my sisters keeper. 

Once the Sun rose I made it home, cooked her breakfast, then came back and started to make calls, she was going to come off the street that morning. Well, it was not that easy, long story short, I called Los Angeles department of mental health and had an outreach team come out and assess her they came within 2 hours. The ball was rolling, they went and did their work and I stayed with her and feed her and looked after her. For 5 days I did not sleep and that was ok. I worked with her to gain information about her personal life to try and track down someone who knew her. All of that healthy good vegetarian food was aiding in her becoming more lucid and regain her health. Her mind was becoming unclouded and she was able to form clear thoughts and speak with clarity here and there.  We took her obtain a TB test as a bed had been found for her in a transitional house for women. 
On a Friday 6 months after our first encounter March 2016 A BREAK.....I asked her again as I had many times if she had a phone number for a family member, she gave me a phone number and it was her daughter in Virginia. For the first time a real phone number that worked.  All that good plant based vegetarian/vegan nutrition helped her become lucid more often. The number was good!!! It was her daughter indeed who never changed her number in case she called. Her daughter after the shock wore off, told me in her mothers schizophrenia she a-wolled from a psych facility in Baltimore and got on a bus and moved to Hollywood 6 years prior and  they did not know if she was dead or alive.  6 Days later her oldest sister and youngest sister would fly in to come to pick up their sister after missing for 6 years from Baltimore, Maryland. Oh, the reunion was beyond my wildest imagination, tears. She was a valued missing member of their puzzle, the family of 6 siblings, 5 girls and 1 boy, her children and a host of nieces and nephews.  Joy overflowed when I made that call and spoke to her daughter early that following Sunday morning. I heard from many other family members a niece called and said my auntie made me the best pancakes.  I even took the phone to her so she could speak to her little sister. She was embarrassed and ashamed and would not even talk long but I was determined to keep close to her until her family could arrive. 
The Joy that came from Baltimore, NY, Virginia I could feel 2500 miles away. When her sisters arrived the next morning I met them at the shelter we have found for her of which she spent only one night.  We took Joyce to the ER after one stop that she insisted on. She and I had been having breakfast at a little diner we found right in the hood. She loved it called Madea's on Western Ave, she called it her Happy Days Diner. She wanted her sisters to eat at our spot.  Then off to the ER, because she was struggling to breathe,  the ER physician said she might have had 3 days left to live before she died. Turns out she had Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Water around her lungs and heart. We got her to the hospital just in time. If we had tried to fly her home in that condition she would have died inflight. When I spoke to the Doctor personally and explained the situation he said OK I know what to do!! Thanks Dr. Ricky!!! He saved her life that day!!! I never left her side. She had become my Angel. You see I am a believe, I believe God calls and ordains us all for a purpose. Mine that night was to care for and watch over Ms. Joyce. I became MY SISTERS KEEPER!!! There are three Holy Scripture text that I have been taught since childhood that I hold dear and live by. Hebrews 13:2, Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. She was my Angel and I was called by GOD to care for her. She was my sister!! My other text is Luke 6:31 (KJV) And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise, and the third is, Luke 3:11  John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same. No one EVER goes hungry on my watch if I have food they have food!!! Even if just beans and rice....we will add water to the beans to stretch them if need be. I live my life trying to follow these instructions from our Lord.
Homemade plate from my own kitchen for Ms. Joyce her request.....all 100% vegetarian, she loved it!!!!
The Day Joyce's sisters arrived, having her vitals taken before we decided to take her to the ER. A Village saved her life. God, The Clinic, dept of mental health out-reach, her sisters, her family and God used me to be his vessel.

Ms. Joyce is thriving and home with her 4 Sisters, a brothers,  daughter, son and 3 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter born while she was on her adventure here in Hollywood and host of nieces and nephews glad to have her home to make her famous pancakes. I speak to her often and I also speak with her sisters as well weekly by text and by phone. We have become family. I am furiously protective of Ms. Joyce!!! My goal is to build a family of women, a sisterhood that gives homeless women back their dignity, hope, self-worth and a sense of purpose.
The Day Joyce's sisters arrived, having her vitals taken before we decided to take her to the ER. A Village saved her life. God, The clinic, dept of mental health out-reach, her sisters, her family and God used me to be his vessel.

Ms. Joyce is thriving and home with her 4 sisters, a brothers, daughter, son and 3 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter born while she was on her adventure here in Hollywood and host of nieces and nephews glad to have her home to make her famous pancakes. I speak to her often and I also speak with her sisters as well weekly by text and by phone. We have become family. I am furiously protective of Ms. Joyce!!! My goal is to build a family of women, a sisterhood that gives homeless women back their dignity, hope, self-worth and a sense of purpose. Our goal is to build a family of Women, a sisterhood that gives homeless women back their dignity, hope, self-worth and a sense of purpose. 
Ms.  Joyce, son, daughter, 3 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter few days after she returned home. 
No women should be on the street period no matter the circumstances we will do all we can to meet their immediate needs and work with them to help facilitate their return as productive citizens. They will have a customized case plan to set goals to reach their ideals and return to the community wheather it is returning to school or reenter the work force.  For those who are sick, we will seek immediate services to stablize them in a ER or Los Angeles county out patient clinics we have partnered with.  Our goal is help them become  healthy as possible and find a community to support their recovery and all needs. Please help us raise the money we need to open the doors and give safety and secruity of a hot shower, clean clothing, shoes,  clean dry bed, warm meals
and shelter. No belly is empty on our watch, many of our staff myself included are foodies and love to create culinary delights and full gourmet meals!!! We aim to provide the maximun to them not the bare minimum. If I eat Steak everyone eats steak which is funny since I am Vegan so we all eat vegetable steaks. Yes, there is such a thing and they are Vegan and my favorites by Loma Linda foods.  Please help us raise the funds we need to open these doors ASAP. Money is standing in the way us from completeing this task.

Ms. Joyce a few weeks after her health was stabilized and home with her family literally within 3 weeks this is her after the photos above. Whomever the higher power is, believe The God of Abraham, Issac and David saved Ms. Joyce's life. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, period bottom line........She is priceless and so is everyone else who is on the streets....help us please!!! No donation is too small....give what you can it will be greatly appreciated and is of great need.

We will pay to lease the building, purchase plastic covered mattresses, beds, blankets, pillows, toiletries, stove, portable showers, stove, refrigerator, freezer, washers, dryers, food, cooking utensils, pots and pan, office supplies, etc. Funding again is available but not right away and the doors have to be open from private funding in order to qualify so please I am begging you to help us help them. That is our goal to offer 50-75 Beds and expand as funding and the additional room becomes available. Please make a donation and share our Fundraiser often and to all you know. We are in a homeless crisis that has been well documented on the national news here in Los Angeles. Ms. Joyce actually told her sister many homeless migrate to California because our weather is so mild. I get that, it is beautiful here...even the homeless have a view of sunny California when not raining. We do not want anyone sleeping on the street especially Women.

Soon you will meet Ms. Dannel a 50 year old homeless two tour veteran on the street right now outside my own home. Yes, she is a veteran who lost one husband to suicide and the 1st one passed away from a disease. After that, she said I just gave up and checked out of life. We will not give up on her. I have not seen her in a few weeks, I have a shower care bag ready for her with clean clothes, towel, washcloth and toiletries just sitting here waiting for her. She moves around the neighboorhood so I will see her again soon. The Los Angeles memorial Olympic swimming pool allows the homeless to come and take a shower if they want for $1.50. Help me help her and other women come off the streets!!! $10.00 donation is all we ask each per person. That is less than Starbucks 5 times a week. Let this be the $10.00 Peoples Shelter!!! Of course, you may give what your heart desires but if we all give $10.00 we all can have a part in seeing this happen. Donating does not have to break the bank. I know we all have things to care for but $10.00 each we can make this happen in no time.  
These are the mattresses we desire to purchase as they are easy to clean and sanitize if soiled or for the next guest once they have been sexually exploited and have not been treated with dignity and respect. transitional housing, sober living homes, domestic violence homes for women 18-100. Educational/vocational centers. We will not stop with our long-term clients till they leave us with an education at least an AA Degree or vocational certificate as in LVN, EMT, dental assistant, sous-chef, radiology technician or some skill or trade they are passionate about. We will teach each client to fish!!!!!!!!

Thank You again for your help in advance and consideration. $10.00 is all it will cost you but any amount will help and the rewards will be great. Won't you please help us help them!!!! Be part of our village!!!!  That is the plan...cots work but once soiled we can not clean and sanitize them and they have to be thrown out and we do not have money to throw away. For everyone's safety and health, we want to make sure we run a clean and sterile facility for all whom we serve and staff as well. Bunk beds allow to bring more women off of the streets, 50 beds go turn to 100 using above headspace. Simply put we need you to make this a reality!!!

Please help us, help them!!!!! There are no words I can express to thank you all for even considering. If you read this far you are a kindred kind soul and share our compassion. Our doors will be open to all who need the help as well as volunteers are always welcome!! Women helping women,  a 24 hour/ 7 Days a week shelter. We need all help but ladies this is about a sisterhood of us helping each other come off the streets. Men we need you too, donations and when the time comes to move and set up the shelter so all help is needed. Goal is to open shelters across the nation in the large cities and rural communities as well. Victims of human trafficking are in such need of special care especially young women who have been victims since childhood or their early teens.  
To learn more in-depth information regarding Safe Harbor Sanctuary please visit our website. Many questions can be answered there or feel free to call our Crisisline 24/7 24 hours a day to have your questions answered, talk if you are feeling out of control and need an ear to listen by trained crisis, suicide, and rape counselors. If you are homeless we can help there too. Although we are not officially open with our own shelter yet we are linked to other shelters and housing for woman 18-100. So do not hesitate to call us if you're in need or a loved one. We can help, call us today or anytime day or night!!!

Please visit our Website: Please call anytime day or night if you are in crisis and/or homeless. Someone will always be there to talk and listen. 

https://safeharborsanctuary.wixsite.com/safeharborsanctuary