<div>Hello, my name is Toshonna Ross, and I am the founder of Courageous Women Association (CWA) and Courage House, a home for women and children in the San Francisco Bay Area who are impacted by domestic violence, homelessness, human trafficking, sexual assault, incarceration, and addiction. Up to 14 women and children can be housed for two years with support services that provide a safe space for them to fully heal from trauma.
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<div><strong>Today, 14 women and children are living in a place where they feel safe. But unless we raise $22,400 by June 15, <em>we will lose Courage House</em>. We have less than three months to ensure these women and children keep their home.</strong>
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<div>During the past 14 years, CWA has helped more than 1,000 women and children a year by providing support and services such as food, clothing, shelter, counseling, and career development. Two years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I opened Courage House to fill a desperate need for safe housing and around-the-clock support for the women we serve.
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<div><strong>Courage House supports women without judgment, shame, blame, or guilt. That’s because I know firsthand the trauma they have experienced.</strong>
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<div>Many years ago, when I was in my early 20s, I was almost murdered by my partner. This moment was the culmination of years of trauma, including rape, homelessness, and child abuse. I realized later that at a young age, I had even been groomed for sex trafficking. Through the grace of God and the help of women who have since become like surrogate mothers to me, I am here today. And today, I am paying that gift forward. But I need your help because our community is at risk.
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<div><strong>Your Gift Changes Lives</strong>
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<div>Courage House residents receive counseling through our Sister2Sister support groups, create life plans and set goals through our 1:1 case management program, and get much-needed help finding safe and affordable permanent housing, jobs, and direct access to other resources as needed.
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<div>In the short two years since opening the Courage House, we have received more than 100 applications and have housed a total of 16 women and 4 children, of which 85% have found employment, 40% have moved on to permanent housing, 10% (so far) have regained full custody of their children, and 13% have furthered their education.
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<div><strong>Why We Need Your Help Now</strong>
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<div>Like so many in the Bay Area, we struggle with the incredibly high cost of rent and have the added challenge of unstable employment for some of our residents, who contribute a portion of their incomes to our housing expenses. We have fallen on hard times, and it has been challenging to sustain our home.
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<div><strong>WITHOUT YOUR HELP: </strong>We could lose our home in a matter of <em>just two months</em>, and our residents risk returning to the traumas that they have worked so hard to put behind them.
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<div><strong>WITH YOUR HELP: </strong>We will continue to provide shelter, safety, and judgment-free support to women and children just like me.
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<div>These women can’t do it without us. And we can’t do it without you. That’s why our motto is <strong><em>Encourage, Inspire, and Empower</em></strong>.
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<div><strong>THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU!</strong>
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<div><em>--Toshonna Ross, Founder and Executive Director, CWA</em>
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<div><strong>LEARN MORE:</strong>
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<div>If you would like more info about our work or know a woman who would benefit from the support we provide, please visit <a href="https://www.courageouswomen.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.courageouswomen.org" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.courageouswomen.org</a></a>
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Sadhasivaraj Nadarajan Malathi

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