Lisa Tindal, director of Mental Health America of Aiken County, presented information regarding Nurture Home during a recent meeting of the Aiken Newcomers' Club.
She said the goal of Nurture Home is restoring hope and ending homelessness for women and children.
Nurture Home receives HUD funding, and any woman who meets the federal government's definition of homelessness is eligible for residence. To date, 80 women, ranging in age from 17 to 54 years old, and 91 children ages 1 to 16 have lived in Nurture Home, Tindal told the group.
What causes a woman to become homeless?
Domestic violence is a frequent cause, as is job loss or eviction, Tindal said.
Mental health conditions, physical health problems or disability and substance abuse can also be a factor in homelessness.
Nurture Home claims successes, with 35 women who furthered their education and 29 who began working within three months of admission to the Home, Tindal said.
Nurture Home has an 82 percent success rate, Tindal said.