Our Vision and Mission Statement

       WISEPlace is a community of housing and hope for women in crisis. Formerly the South Orange County YWCA, WISEPlace has an 80+year history of caring for local women, children and families. By meeting basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, physical and emotional nourishment, as well as vocational and life skills training, WISEPlace is one of the few places these women can go to begin again.

       For thousands of women, the commitment to change a life filled with abuse comes by completing an emergency treatment for victims of domestic violence, or drug or alcohol addiction. At WISEPlace, these former abuse victims can take advantage of the "Steps to Independence" program, which provides support services such as individual and group counseling, resumes writting, interviewing support, affordable housing assistance and more. This program also serves women who have survived a traumatic experience or devastating financial reversal.

       To be a teenager without a family, a home or career training is no way to start a new life. Yet for the countless number of 18 year-old women that are emancipated from Orange County foster homes every year, there are few choices. WISEPlace developed First Step, a program designed to address the special needs of former foster care children. The program provides life skills and mentoring, along with affordable housing, meals, clothing, counseling, employment development, scholarships for college tuition and books, and more.

      Through the "Senior Step", WISEPlace offers women who are over age 55 and without shelter the means to manage on their own by providing solutions to the health and income-related challenges facing older homeless women. These include assistance with securing adequate healthcare, employment development, transportation services and more. The goal of the Senior Step program is to assist these women in creating a secure lifestyle for the future.

     To meet our eligibility criteria, program participants must be employable, drug and alcohol free, aged 18 or over, and living as a single woman striving for a stronger sense of self and independence. Applicants may contact our Program Administrator for intake interviews.

       How can you make a difference in your community? By saving lives, one woman at a time. WISEPlace is grateful for donations large and small. You may also contribute by donating food, volunteer time or professional services. Please visit www.wiseplaceevents.org  to purchase an event ticket and to see other ways you can contribute.