Could You Live in the Streets for Ten Years Waiting to Find a Home?

Most people could not. Now imagine being a victim of domestic violence, fleeing your abuser, only to find yourself alone and living in the streets, and then having to wait over ten years to find a place to call home. Could you do it? Most would probably say no. Unfortunately, this is the stark reality for over 115,000 women living in California today.

Nationally, 1 in 3 people living homeless are unaccompanied women, meaning they are alone without children or dependents, and 80% of them report trauma or abuse as the reason for their homelessness.

Living on the streets is a breeding ground for additional trauma, violence, and both physical and sexual abuse. In fact, homeless women are 5-10x more likely to die or be assaulted than the general population and are victimized at a much higher rate than men (70% are victims of domestic violence and 41% are sexual assault victims). Couple this with the average time of ten years to find a home (which is 2.5 times longer than men) and it is imperative that these women are able to find services who specialize in their unique needs.

It is imperative for their survival that women are provided with support and shelter.

Senate Bill 678 – the Unaccompanied Women Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021 looks to address this very issue. As it is now, unaccompanied women, who make up 29% of the entire homeless population nationally, are not recognized as their own individualized group of people. This is a problem because most shelters provide services for men or for women with dependents, leaving women without dependents literally out in the cold to fend for themselves.

This is where WISEPlace comes in.

WISEPlace has been serving the Orange County community since 1924. We are the only shelter in Orange County solely dedicated to the needs of unaccompanied women. In 2020, of the 187 women we provided services for, 57% were survivors of domestic violence and 67% reported a disability. Women range in ages from 18 to 85+ and many have spent several years being homeless and without medical care. Through safe, transitional shelter and holistic, trauma-informed wraparound services, women who are fleeing abuse or trauma, or who have spent years fending for themselves on the street are able to get back on their feet, heal, and move from hopelessness and homelessness to housing and self-reliance.

Senate Bill 678 will have a significant impact on the work that we do. By recognizing unaccompanied women for who they are, the state will be able to place a greater emphasis on preventing and ending homelessness for these women, which in turn will create more options for women seeking services.

With 1 in 3 of all homeless people being an unaccompanied woman, it is far past time to recognize the unique needs of these women so we as a community are able to help them heal and get back on their feet.

Since inception, WISEPlace has helped over 8,400 women transition from hopelessness and homelessness to permanent housing and self-reliance.

Kellie Aamodt, first got involved with WISEPlace while she was Vice President of Sales at UPS. She and her staff volunteered and assisted in a variety of ways. Now, as one of the members of the NAWRB National Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council, she continues to find ways to support WISEPlace. “They do amazing work and are one of the only shelters to focus one unaccompanied women. Having WISEPlace in Santa Ana makes a true difference in our fight against homelessness, specifically for women. It’s a fantastic organization.”

How Can I Help?

• Help them Home. Join us in a countywide giving day for Orange County’s homeless population. You can find out more and support us here.

• Support Senate Bill 678 to give unaccompanied women the support and services they so desperately need.

• Amazon and Instacart Gift Cards. Due to the pandemic, women in the program are in need of basic necessities for work and life.

• Lunch or Dinner Sponsorships. $350-$500 provides a meal for all the women in the shelter.

• Volunteer. WISEPlace utilizes volunteers for a range of services, workshops and activities.

• Stay in Touch. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Brateil Aghasi

CEO WISEPlace To get involved or support WISEPlace through our wish list, please visit https://wiseplace.org/wish-lists/, contact us at volunteers@wiseplace.org or call 714-542-3577.