In the months following Hurricane Katrina in 2007, Dan and Jackie Silverman, two philanthropic visionaries, sought to meet the immediate and pressing needs of mothers with children in Greater New Orleans. One of the largest sheltering organizations dedicated to serving homeless families with children for seventeen years, the most vulnerable population in Greater New Orleans, The New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter (NOWCS) has led the way to breaking the cycle of homelessness for families, assisting them in the transition from a life of poverty and homelessness to one of self-sufficiency and stability. With an incredible 98% success rate of keeping clients out of homelessness permanently, the NOWCS is looking to further its operation in the hopes of caring for even more families. In 2023, the NOWCS Board and CEO were able to find and acquire a facility in a former hotel that would suit the Shelter’s operational needs, thereby fulfilling a long-held goal of building equity and setting down permanent roots for the Shelter.
“Our new facility not only offers us more space for homeless families but also enhances our operational capabilities, enabling us to deploy a wider range of services and support,” says Dawn Bradley-Fletcher, CEO of the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter (NOWCS). “This growth allows us to address the multifaceted nature of homelessness with a more holistic approach, incorporating preventative measures, immediate relief, and long-term solutions.”
Through their Home At Last campaign, NOWCS is currently raising money to continue renovations of the existing property, already utilizing generous grant money to renovate the kitchen at the new facility to a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen to provide nutritious family meals in a home-like setting. With a completely gated property, the adults and children in their care will feel safe and secure. And by utilizing the hotel’s already built-in rooms with ensuite bathrooms, each resident will be provided a sense of comfort and support as they transition to their new life…