Who are the women in your past who have changed the trajectory of your life? Were they family members, friends, or simply strangers who offered you support in a time of need?

Each March as Women’s History Month is celebrated, we find ourselves reflecting on the inspiring women that have helped make the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) the safe haven that it is today. Women like our founders Jill Halverson and Rosa, whose lasting friendship inspired the opening of our Day Center more than 45 years ago. And women like Carla, who came to DWC seeking to rebuild her life and has left a lasting impact on our community in the process.

From an early age, Carla always felt that she needed mental health support, but was unsure of where to go to. For many years, she suffered on her own without having a support system, amplifying feelings of isolation, and making it difficult to access necessary resources and assistance. Eventually, she found herself sleeping in her car in Skid Row with nowhere else to go.

It was not long before Carla heard about the Downtown Women’s Center from a friend. Upon her first visit to the Day Center, she was immediately connected to a shelter where she would stay temporarily until she was permanently housed. She continued to visit DWC to receive meals, take showers, and be in community with other women. When asked how she felt after finding DWC, she said:

“I felt a sense of safety and security here. There were just women; women who can relate to other women. I felt like I was finally at home.”

Carla was also introduced to our mental health and housing programs. With the help of her therapist, Carla received the proper mental health support that she had always searched for and began her journey toward healing. Now Carla can navigate each day with greater ease thanks to the supportive environment and safety she found with staff and other participants like herself.

Today, Carla lives in a beautiful one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles after being housed this past December. She says, “I am a totally different person than I used to be, I believe in myself more today and I am able to walk with my head high.”

We wouldn’t have been able to help women like Carla without your donations. With your support, DWC’s mental health clinicians work hard to provide trauma-informed individual psychotherapy, support groups, and medication management 365 days a year. Together, we can continue to provide the necessary mental health support alongside housing solutions that many women experiencing homelessness need.

Your support is key for creating a brighter future- join us in changing the lives of thousands of women across Los Angeles.

Learn more at www.DowntownWomensCenter.org.

Downtown Women's Center

Celebrates Women's History Month 2025

Team Members