THE MARY SPOTTSWOOD WOMEN’S CENTER

The Mary Spottswood Women’s Center is a safe, secure haven for women, and women with children, for up to 90 days to allow them a new beginning. This structured “family” atmosphere provides training opportunities, job development, a 12 Step Program environment and medical care for women and their children in residence.  Any woman in need throughout Monroe County regardless of age is welcomed.

The Center is a non-judgmental place for women who, for various reasons, such as substance abuse, domestic violence, loss of employment, incarceration, illness or other traumatic events, have found themselves homeless.  It is also a place where elderly or mentally ill women can find safety and security while awaiting placement in an appropriate facility that can meet their long term needs.

The Mary Spottswood Women’s Center meets all local safety standards and ADA requirements as to handicap accessibility and provides comfortable dining areas, common gathering spaces, children’s play areas and laundry facilities.  Woman accompanied by their children are housed separately from single women for privacy and to keep families intact.

KATHY'S HOPE

Those who have successfully completed a ninety-day intensive case management program at the Mary Spottswood Women’s Center or other similar facility are eligible to apply to live at Kathy’s Hope, a housing complex designed as independent living for women and their children.  While at Kathy’s Hope, women continue to receive individual case management, referral and follow-up assistance as needed.   Kathy’s Hope, opened in 2007, can be a long-term home or act as a stepping stone for permanent housing elsewhere.  As in the Mary Spottswood Women’s Center, women with children are given separate, private space for them to live with their children.

While at Kathy’s Hope, each individual receives comprehensive case management services delivered in a respectful and caring fashion. A resident is required to meet with her case manager at least once a month to provide an opportunity for the client to discuss challenges and successes. All client information shared with the case manager is handled with the utmost confidentiality and sensitivity.

Each individual has unique goals and needs. An individual’s length of stay will vary according to those goals and needs, in addition to such factors as health, finances, and continued appropriateness for the program. The case manager works with each client to develop, focus and periodically update the goals and objectives and various timetables of each client.

Kathy’s Hope also meets all local safety standards and ADA requirements as to handicap accessibility and provides comfortable dining areas, common gathering spaces, children’s play areas and laundry facilities.

CASA DE MEREDITH

Casa de Meredith, opened in December of 2010, offers truly affordable, structured and supportive housing opportunities for women and men on the road to complete independence.  The facility consists of two efficiency and seven 2-bedroom apartments available to women and their intact families, including the father of their children. The apartments are also available to single fathers and their children.

Prior to Casa de Meredith, there was no program in Key West where a homeless mother, her children and their father could all live together.   While living at Casa de Meredith, residents must remain clean and sober and attend monthly group house meetings.