Profile: Rosie’s Place

Before daylight breaks, Claudia gets out of bed. She rouses her two sons, sees them off to school and gets to the gym. At 8:45 am, she arrives at her first part-time job as a visiting nurse’s assistant. In the afternoon, she’s working as a teacher’s aide in the Boston public schools. By 6 pm, she’s seated at one of the two night classes she’s taking at Bunker Hill Community College.

Just another day in the busy life of a dedicated, multitasking mom—with one exception. Not long ago, Claudia was homeless. Her low-paying job couldn’t support the Boston area’s high rents, an all-too-common reason for homelessness. But Claudia had a dream—she wanted to become a social worker and to own her own home. Fortunately, she found Rosie’s Place, where she wasn’t alone in the pursuit of a dream.

From meals to micro-enterprise, Rosie’s Place is a haven for women as young as 18 and as old as 80. Adult education programs help guests build job skills and increase their self-sufficiency. The Women’s Craft Cooperative, a successful agency-owned venture, introduces women to craftwork and the basics of merchandising; it also serves as a source of income for the artisans.

For Claudia, Rosie’s Place became home base. Offering more than just hot meals and a safe place, the center’s diverse programs helped her pursue her goals. After taking English as a Second Language and General Education Development classes through Rosie’s, Claudia received a scholarship for two healthcare certificate programs. Thanks to the support from Rosie’s Place, Claudia eventually found and
furnished an affordable apartment. With a home to count on, “my kids are more emotionally stable,” Claudia says. “Thanks to Rosie’s Place, I have so much.”