Be it Ever So Humble

Posted on November 5, 2009, in Momorandums, with 0 Comments

We are glad to have become acquainted with Women In Need, an organization that uniquely services families with housing and help…

We attended an event this week for Women In Need, and in the process got an education on the real faces of homelessness and their unique approach to overcoming it. Some of the surprising things we learned: first, contrary to common belief, in New York at least, 80% of those in the shelter system are actually families. One of the many unfortunate outcomes of the recession is that more families are now in need of housing than ever before. Another surprising fact: it turns out that New York City has the notable distinction of being the only city with a longstanding policy commiting to house any family that is seeking shelter. (Perhaps why, if you live in or have ever visited NY, you are likely hard-pressed to remember seeing a family out on the streets).

Understanding that the typical mother who seeks shelter with her children is facing one or more serious issues like domestic violence, poverty or family instability, the WIN approach is not only to house these women and children, but to provide the mother with respect, esteem, counseling, education and training… AND comprehensive childcare. Thus 25 years later, there have been thousands of success stories of women and families whose lives have turned around in every respect. In fact the average length of stay for families in the shelter system is 11 months — and 90% of the women who go on to find permanent housing are still in that housing two years later.

Now you can bid to win a celebrity house – to help fund housing for Women in Need:

Starting next week and running through November 30th, WIN is holding an online auction of amazing papier mache houses that have been individually designed by renowned fashion designers, sports stars, Broadway performers and other VIPs. (We saw them up close and they are quite fabulous). Two of our favorites are these created by Diane Von Furstenberg and Dylan Lauren; others have been designed by Sean "Diddy" Combs, Oscar de la Renta, Victoria and David Beckham, Sean Avery, Isaac Mizrahi and Halle Berry. The theme appropriately enough is "Home is Where the Heart is."