WISEPlace – Ending Homelessness for Women in Orange County with Housing, Counseling, Mental Health, and Recovery Support
WISEPlace is the only Orange County-based nonprofit leading the effort to end homelessness for unaccompanied individuals. We provide the most vulnerable in our community with safe shelter, counseling and mental health services, case management and addiction recovery, and employment assistance to help rebuild their lives.
At WISEPlace, the people we serve often lack the support system of a spouse, significant other, or children. Nearly a quarter are disabled, every single one has experienced domestic violence, and all have incomes well below the poverty line. These and other factors put those we serve at a greater risk of becoming homeless.
When you’re living in your car, it’s a constant struggle to accomplish basic things that many people take for granted, like sleeping, eating, showering, and laundry. Every day is a fight to survive when you’re homeless. Read more..
Thanks to YOU, Elaine is now housed in a safe neighborhood that is close to her doctors. She is thrilled to be home and is receiving regular medical care to treat her ongoing medical conditions. Read more…
People who have never been in an abusive relationship may have a hard time understanding why I didn’t just leave at the first sign of trouble. The truth is that it’s not as easy as simply walking away. He made me feel like I was powerless and that I had no control over my life. Read more…
Mirna looked for help at other shelters, but she was turned away again and again. No matter how many times she was told no, she was determined not give up. In February 2023, she found her way to WISEPlace and we welcomed her with open arms. Read More
A college educated teacher, Annie was trapped in an abusive marriage, attempted suicide, and ultimately was thrown out onto the street. Sleeping in her car for 18 months, disabled, and alone, she felt that she was not worthy of love or hope. Until she came to WISEPlace. Read More…
As a young child, Marjhoree endured more trauma and hardship than anyone should ever experience. Growing up with her mother and sister in Kansas City, Missouri, they were constantly on the run from her abusive father, who was eventually sent to prison for murdering another woman. Read more…
If someone had told me that at 59 years old, I would be sleeping in my car night after night, I would have said they were crazy. I had raised six children on my own while working full-time and prided myself on my independence. But there I was. Alone, scared, and with no idea how to get my life back. Read more
I slowly opened my eyes and found myself staring at the feet of people walking by. My body ached from lying on the hard pavement and my stomach growled. As always, my first thought was finding food and a public restroom. I also had to find a safer place to sleep tonight. The streets are so dangerous for a woman on her own. How much longer could I go on like this? How was I going to survive another day? Read More
I couldn’t believe how quickly my life changed. Everything I loved and counted on was gone in the blink of an eye. Tera and her husband had been married for just two years and were settling into a happy life together when he suddenly died of a heart attack. In just a few short moments, one of the best times in Tera’s life had turned into her worst nightmare. Read more
Imagine a life so filled with intense family trauma, that Ycela’s drug addiction started when she was 13 years old following family separation. She dropped out of high school, had her first child at 15, followed by two more children over the next several years. Not being able to provide stability, she was denied custody. It was the wake-up call she needed, and she entered rehab. She relapsed after a few years and went through treatment again in 2014 fully committed to staying sober. Read more
Married at 18 years old, five years later I was pregnant with my third child when my husband suddenly passed away from an undiagnosed brain condition. Devastated and widowed at just 25 years old, I decided to move back to California to begin to rebuild our lives.
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When I entered WISEPlace, I came directly from the train tracks and never imagined in my wildest dreams of being in my own apartment. Now I say, never say never because it’s possible to be housed, all thanks to the amazing team at WISEPlace.
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I had so much anger and hate toward myself before I found WISEPlace, and I didn’t think I would amount to anything. I truly believed that I belonged in the gutter behind the dumpster. But, when you have the right program, you learn to love yourself – and that is very powerful.
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My therapist, case manager and all of the staff at WISEPlace were a huge part of my recovery because they helped me grow and learn that I could change my situation. They all believed in me. I didn’t believe in myself, and that was the problem. Their support made me confident that I could do new things, and then they gave me employment skills; that was the changing point in my life.
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When you donate to WISEPlace, 90¢ of every dollar is invested directly into our programs. Your support of WISEPlace ensures that unaccompanied individuals experiencing homelessness do not have to face adversity alone.
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When you support WISEPlace, you provide safe shelter solutions and empowering wraparound services to unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness. Donate now to provide a caring community for those who call WISEPlace home.
