In 2008 Margaret was working as a claims examiner and her daughter Cheryl was working for AT&T. When the economic downfall left both mother and daughter without a job and little hope of finding one in Minnesota, it seemed like the perfect time to move to Los Angeles where Cheryl could pursue her dream of an acting career.

The hotel where they stayed proved to be more expensive than anticipated and their savings was quickly diminished. Since they had no income they were forced to find someplace else to live. The manager was kind enough to take them to a shelter on Skid Row which proved to be a frightening experience for both of them. Through an online service and TBN, (a Christian broadcasting television show), Margaret & Cheryl were fortunate enough to find a family that took them into their home until they could find jobs. They stayed with this family for the next 7 months.

Cheryl found a seasonal job with Universal Studios so mother and daughter moved out, finding inexpensive places to stay including employee housing. However, when the season ended, they were told they had to vacate employee housing. Cheryl moved in with some friends she had met through her job and Margaret found herself homeless and all alone. This is when she heard about Good Shepherd Center.

Margaret became a Languille resident on September 20, 2011. As a resident, she attended every life skills workshop that was offered and met regularly with her case manager and employment coordinator. Margaret found the money management classes to be especially helpful; they taught her that she does not have to spend everything she makes. She still spends all of her paycheck, but now it is to purchase money orders for future use. Margaret said that while she was at Languille they taught her to do chores, something she was not so good at and to “get up and get out of the house; to take care of business.” She appreciated learning these skills as they enabled her to accomplish her goals.

On December 28, 2011 Margaret moved to Hawkes and was quickly identified as a great candidate for the culinary arts training program at The Village Kitchen. After completing the program at the end of March, Margaret obtained employment through one of our partners, the Department of the Aging and is currently working 32 ½ hours a week at Good Will. In the future she hopes to find a job where she can use the culinary skills she obtained while training at The Village Kitchen and has expressed an interest in continuing to volunteer there on a part-time basis. Those who know and support Margaret say that she has maintained a positive and optimistic attitude even during the most difficult times.

Cheryl is still working at Universal Studios but during the off season she is lucky to get one day a week of work. The fall and winter months are especially difficult. Consequently, Cheryl moved into Languille soon after her mother did and also proved to be a good candidate for Hawkes.

Currently Cheryl is working 3-5 days a week and has been promoted to team leader. She loves her job and is looking forward to the peak season when she will be working full time. She is saving money through her job, with automatic deductions from her paycheck into the credit union.

Margaret and Cheryl are grateful for the opportunity that Good Shepherd Center has provided them. According to Margaret,   “we have been so blessed to be here.   So many supports and resources are provided. This has been the best experience ever!” Cheryl added, “It is a clean, healthy environment. It is reassuring to know there is a safe place for my mom and I to be.”

Mother and daughter were determined to change their situation and have recognized the incredible opportunities available to them at Good Shepherd Center. They have taken advantage of the valuable services we have to offer and are well on their way to a successful transition back to self-sufficiency.

I came from a healthy, happy home. I had a good job as a massage therapist and intentions of becoming an acupuncturist. When I broke up with my boyfriend of 14 years, I decided to move to California to start over. Once in Los Angeles, I learned that my license to practice as a massage therapist was not honored here and that you need a separate license for each city in which you plan to work. Realizing the expense involved in getting licensed again, I began to look for work. When my resources ran out and I could not find a job, I found a place to stay at Union Rescue Mission. This was the first time I had ever experienced homelessness. While staying at Union Rescue, I learned about the culinary arts training program through Good Shepherd Center. I expressed an interest to my case manager and was given a referral to Hawkes Transitional Residence in hopes of participating in the training program at The Village Kitchen. I moved into Hawkes in July of 2011 and began working in The Village Kitchen soon after. In October 2011 I graduated from the program and began working at a restaurant on the campus of USC. In January I was promoted to team leader and am now the kitchen manager. Now that I have steady employment my next goal is to get an apartment. Although I am not ready to move out of Hawkes, I have begun the process of looking for apartments in the neighborhood where I want to live. I realize that it’s not easy to find affordable housing in Los Angeles so I want to have most of the leg work done before it is time for me to move. Good Shepherd Center provides a good support team. They help keep you on track, and help you to stay focused and keep negativity out. I am grateful for all the services provided but I especially love the facials that Gabriella gives. They make you feel normal; for a brief period of time I can forget that I am homeless. The pampering feels so good! This is my first and my last shelter. For some it's how to get to the next shelter. Not me. I have goals. I am still studying acupuncture, but I need to take the national exam and the California exam before I can practice. I will also submit paperwork so I can work as a massage therapist again. It’s so important to have goals. Without goals you don't know where you are going. It’s like you are all alone in a vast desert. I’m thankful that Good Shepherd has helped me to make goals for my future and I know that I am on my way to achieving them.

I have been a ballerina, a dance teacher, a caterer, a personal trainer, a certified massage therapist and a sous chef on a cruise ship. I feel like I’ve lived five lifetimes before I became homeless.

In 2009 I was living in New York and working as a caterer. I was a newlywed and just two weeks after my wedding day, my husband was hit and killed by a drunk driver. Then two weeks after that, I lost my apartment. I discovered that the landlord had rented out the units illegally, and the Fire Marshall closed down the building. The tenants, including myself, were not allowed to re-enter the building, not even to gather our personal belongings. In one big swoop I lost everything—my home, my love, and all my possessions. I needed to make a new start and I wanted to live some place warm, so I headed to Arizona.

I lived in Arizona for a brief period of time, and while there, buried my last living relative. From there I moved to Santa Monica and lived in a hostel. Two weeks after I moved in, all my belongings were stolen: my bank card, the little money I had, and all my identification. I spent a few nights sleeping on the street when a homeless man said to me, “You need to be educated. You don’t belong here. I choose to live this life, but I don’t think you want to live like this.” I told him, “You’re right. I don’t want to live like this.” This man took me to DPSS, and helped me to apply for General Relief (welfare). He then took me to Saint Joseph Center and they referred me to a shelter in Culver City. While I was living in Culver City, I heard people talking about Good Shepherd Center. My case manager, Tina, persistently called Languille Emergency Shelter, and when a space opened, I moved in.

I heard about the culinary arts training program at The Village Kitchen and inquired about it. Ray, the employment coordinator, helped me get into the program. When I was depressed, Ray helped me by just listening to me. He still calls sometimes, and I think that says a lot. When I worked as a caterer, I was self-taught. If I wanted to make something, I just looked it up and made it. I always liked cooking, but The Village Kitchen was the first formal training I had. I am so grateful for the education and the experience I received, and for the support I received from Ray and the rest of the staff. The nuns were awesome! I had never been around nuns before but I quickly realized they’re human; they just dressed differently. I appreciated all the little things I received while living at Good Shepherd Center. Whenever I felt down, someone would come along and ask; ‘Are you ok?’ or they’d say ‘It’s so good to see you.’ There was always someone around to bring you back up.

Today I live in my own apartment with a friend and I work at a café in Hollywood, filling in wherever needed: line cook, chef on food presentation at the front end of the kitchen, and as cook and server for banquets and private parties. Although I love my job, I’m looking for a job that’s more about cooking and combining herbs for wellness. I am studying acupuncture and Chinese medicine at Emperor’s College in Santa Monica. I have my eye on a little tea house and herbal remedy establishment. The staff is friendly and the environment is harmonious. It just may be the perfect place for me! What I really learned from my experience of being homeless is that you don’t have to do something huge. Do something small. Don’t be afraid to be kind. It just might change someone’s life!

I was a successful account and fortunate enough to have my own business. I had a business partner that anyone would be proud to call their best friend. But “words are cheap” as they say and this partner stole all the company’s money and moved out of the country. I was devastated and humiliated. How could someone so successful have been so stupid? After all, I was the one keeping the books. I swallowed my pride and accepted the fact that I was homeless and had nowhere to go.

I called 211, a social service access number and they gave me the number to Good Shepherd Center. As I sat before the case manager at Languille emergency shelter, three words came to me: “please help me.” I promised her that if she would let me stay at Good Shepherd that I would get a job in the first week I was there. All I needed was a good night’s sleep and a place to shower.

I was shocked when I came to breakfast! It had been quite a while since I had a home cooked meal. The pampering I received while staying at the emergency shelter was unbelievable. They gave me clean clothes to go on interviews and bus tokens to get there. But most importantly I received the emotional support I needed to greet the interviewer with an optimistic attitude. As I promised, within a week I found a job—as an accountant.

Knowing my time at the shelter would be brief, I saved as much money as I could. When my time was nearly up, I requested a placement at Farley House, a transitional residence which is part of Good Shepherd Center. Instead of a room I now have an apartment and am one step closer to independent living. I continue to work as an accountant and am able to save money every paycheck toward permanent housing. I thank Good Shepherd and I thank my God for helping me in my darkest hours. Thank you for your continued support and love. I will never forget your kindness.

I was living in Las Vega when I lost my job and soon after that my apartment. I came to Los Angeles thinking the job prospects would be better but was unable to find a place to stay. Saint Joseph’s Center referred me to Languille Emergency Shelter. During my stay at the shelter I worked as a site supervisor during tax preparation season, and as an auditor for a small property management company. I lost my job as auditor however, due to the company’s financial problems and tax season was coming to an end.

I met with the employment coordinator at the Employment and Client Services Center at GSC. They assisted me in registering with SER (Senior Employment Resources) and I was assigned to St. Barnabas as my worksite. My supervisor was impressed by my job performance and within 6 months I was offered a full time position.

Because of my steady employment and my commitment to the Good Shepherd Program, I was able to move from the emergency shelter into Hawkes Transitional Residence. Seven months after being employed full time by St. Barnabas I was able to save enough money to move into my own apartment and still have money left in savings. I am still employed full time by St. Barnabas, am working on-call at Cedar Sinai Hospital and am pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Human Services with the University of Phoenix.

I am determined to work and to provide for myself but I am thankful to Good Shepherd Center for being there when I needed them. They provided a safe, clean place to stay, assistance with employment and words of encouragement.

I came to the United States over 20 years ago to make a better life for myself. I became a legal resident and was fortunate enough to land several well paying jobs, the most recent one with the Los Angeles Police Department. I was not alone when the layoffs came but it was no consolation when I was not able to pay my rent and was forced to leave my apartment. I did not know where to go for help so I went to live on the streets. I was there for over a year. While living on the streets I was robbed of all my personal belongings, including my identification, my social security card and my legal residence card.

I met Sr. Rosaline when she brought food, clothes and toiletries to those of us living in the park. She referred me to the Good Shepherd Center - Languille Emergency Shelter. It wasn’t easy starting over but I kept busy taking care of my physical, emotional and spiritual needs. During my stay at Languille I was able to replace my identification, my social security card and my legal resident card.

When I met Sr. Rosaline I was hopeless and weary but now I am a very happy person. The staff at Good Shepherd Center assisted me in applying for my social security retirement benefits. I am renting a room from a friend who owns a house in the Valley. I am very grateful to the Good Shepherd’s staff, especially Sr. Rosaline for giving me a chance to get back on my feet and to once again regain dignity and self respect.

Although I grew up in a small western town, my dream was to move to Hollywood and become an actress. Throughout my childhood, I sang in the choir and took advantage of every opportunity to act in school plays. I studied art and drama and earned my BFA at the American Musical Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. Even before graduating I managed to get work acting and felt that I was well on my way to stardom!

I was not disillusioned into thinking that I could support myself as a beginning actress however, and worked other jobs to make ends meet. While working as a childcare counselor in a residential facility, I injured my back breaking up a fight between two children. I went on disability and shortly after was laid off. I did not know my rights and my disability ended. My only source of income was $200.00 a month on general relief and I was unable to pay my rent. I had no family or friends to lean on and so I went to live in my car. After 10 months of living in this situation my ankles became swollen and I had difficulty walking.

I did not lose sight of my dream and continued to go on auditions, even when I was living in my car. I saved my GR money and eventually checked into a cheap hotel. While staying in the hotel, I met a young woman who told me about a nonprofit in the area with drop-in counseling services.

That morning, I met with a counselor, who placed me into Languille Emergency Shelter at Good Shepherd Center. I was given a clean room and a warm bed in a secure building. It was a hand up and I gladly took it. The case manager at Languille taught me about tough love. She said, “I’m not here for you to like. We have a purpose in life. Don’t waste your time here.” I made sure I did everything – everything - in those six weeks that I was told. I was determined to find work and save money.

After spending six weeks at Languille, I moved to Good Shepherd Center’s Hawkes Transitional Residence. While I was still living at Hawkes, I continued to go on auditions and booked several jobs on TV shows. Soon I had enough saved for a deposit and first month’s rent in my very own apartment.

I think that God always allowed me to have just what I needed to survive. It took a lot of prayer and a lot of tears and at times it was a scary situation for me. I’m just grateful that Good Shepherd was there for me, to provide the love, the tools and the stability I needed to get back on my feet. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if it were not for Good Shepherd Center.

As a young girl I was very bright and in my sophomore year was voted most likely to succeed. I studied psychology, sociology and theology in college and I was off to a very promising career. No amount of education prepared me for being homeless. I'd never given much thought to the issue of homelessness until it happened to me.

I had a good job with a respectable company for most of my adult life. When they downsized I was one of the first to be laid off. Soon after, the company was relocated oversees and I saw many of my friends heading for the unemployment lines as well. That didn't make me feel any better. I was in my 50's; too young for retirement and too old to compete with the aggressive young college graduates that were willing to work for a fraction of what I had been making.

Unable to find work in my field, and told that I was overqualified for the jobs that I was applying for, I soon began lying about my education. Desperate, I became willing to work for minimum wage. I found a job at a fast food restaurant and moved from the apartment I had in mid-town to an inexpensive motel room in an undesirable neighborhood. Things spiraled downward and soon I found myself living in my car to be able to afford the gas to get to and from work. The cost of the motel room took a huge portion of my salary.

I parked my car close to McArthur Park where I had access to a toilet and running water. One of the women living at the park told me that a red van would come by with Good Shepherd Center painted on the side and that a nice nun would provide me with toiletries and a blanket just for asking. This is when I met Sr. Rosaline.

Sr. Rosaline gave me information about an emergency shelter known at Good Shepherd Center and encouraged me to make a phone call. Two weeks later I was offered a bed, 3 meals a day, and a program to help me move from homelessness toward independent living. Through the guidance and generosity of the staff at GSC my life began to spiral upward. I was given the assistance I needed to develop an impressive resume and soon found a job that was more in alignment to my chosen profession. Through an extensive program offered at the transitional shelter I was able to save enough money to move back to the neighborhood I left two years ago.

It is my goal to write a check to GSC so I can pass on a little of what was so generously given to me. I am told that I need to establish a safety net of a savings account first. Thank you Good Shepherd for giving me a "hand up" rather than a "hand out".

Before I came to live at Good Shepherd Center I was fearful and filled with rage. Although I tried to hide my feelings and not let my four year old son know how I felt, he became very emotional as well. He would throw temper tantrums and sometimes cry for no apparent reason. We had been sleeping on the streets, in hospital emergency rooms or sometimes riding the bus all night long to stay out of the cold. The day that Jack and I moved into Good Shepherd Center, I went to our room and cried with relief while my son sat and watched, not knowing what to do. I couldn't control myself.

The sisters and the case manger were very patient and kind with Jack and me. During the next few months we met several times with Dr. Sam who came to us from Children's Hospital to teach parenting skills and provide therapy for me and my son. He helped us deal with our anger and crying outbursts. Soon I was able to concentrate enough to take on the responsibilities of a mother and learn what I needed to do to provide for us.

The day we moved out of the Good Shepherd Center was a sad one for me because I felt I was leaving the only home in which Jack and I had felt any love. But I had to be strong for Jack. Now it was my time to provide the love and support for my son that had been mentored to me during our stay at the shelter. Jack just started first grade and he seems to be a happy and well adjusted child. I don't think this would have been possible without the support we received from Good Shepherd.

I was a well-paid professional and worked for the same organization for nearly 15 years. At 54 years of age, I was happy when they offered me severance pay and an opportunity to take early retirement. I hadn't had a vacation in years, so I took a much needed vacation before beginning the process of looking for another job. Soon I had used up my severance pay, my unemployment benefits, and was shocked when still I had not found a job.  I quickly went from being a professional with a stable job to homeless and in a deep depression. I never thought it could happen to me.

I heard stories of women living on skid row, sleeping on park benches, in the park or riding the bus all night. Thankfully I am one of the fortunate ones. I was given a referral to Good Shepherd Center.  The staff and the sisters were wonderful to me.  Soon the depression began to lift.  The case manager at the emergency shelter assisted me in applying for the benefits to which I was entitled due to my years of working.

During my stay at Good Shepherd Center I was able to save enough money to get my own apartment and begin to rebuild my life.  I am enrolled in an art class at the community college, something I did not have time for when I was a full time employee. Now, my life as a senior more closely resembles what I had always imagined, rather than what it could have been had I not been so fortunate to have had the help of Good Shepherd Center.