Mariah had one unwavering goal: secure a brighter future for her daughter K’myah. When she found herself without stable housing, she worked multiple jobs to put a roof over K’myah’s head, even if it was only guaranteed for one night. Her private room in Raphael House was, as she called it, “a glimmer of hope.”
For 53 years, Raphael House has provided help to more than 30,000 families through our programs, offering help to families like Mariah’s. Through our Residential Program, we provide not only private rooms and warm meals but also the tools for long-term stability. Over the course of their stay, students are given tutoring opportunities, extracurricular activities, and back-to-school supplies. Parents receive career counseling, financial literacy coaching, and connections to resources encouraging healthy family dynamics.
But Mariah found that a fresh start came with an overwhelming amount of unforeseen costs. Raphael House was proud to help her with these—paying for apartment application fees, new clothing, and securing grants for new home furnishings. In addition to housing and meals, last year Raphael House was able to support our Residential and Bridge families with $43,000 in direct aid. For Mariah, this was a relief—no longer would she have to worry about leaving K’myah at night working extra shifts to build her new life.
Mariah and K’myah are now members of our post-shelter Bridge Program, where families can continue to connect with Raphael House for career counseling, case management, and children’s services for support. Mariah is a part of the 95% of engaged Bridge Program participants reporting that they have maintained stable housing.
Much like our families, Raphael House relies on the support of a generous community. Your donation can help us lay the foundation for countless families to find a new beginning through our shelter’s programs. With support from the entire Raphael House community, Mariah was able to secure market-rate housing for herself and K’myah and successfully start fresh in their new home.
Please consider donating to Raphael House and supporting Bay Area families in need. Your significant contributions can help provide families with the tools and support systems to build new frameworks for long-term stability.
What you see here are photos from our annual Christmastime visit from Santa, which we schedule for our Residential families. As a complete surprise, K’myah walked up to our jolly, bearded Saint Nick with a miniature Santa doll that she and Mariah had purchased on their own. We still have that doll, as a memento of the generosity it takes to build a new life for families to call home.
Home is more than four walls. It’s security. It’s stability. It’s “a glimmer of hope.” Join us in creating lasting change. Your generosity allows families to turn uncertainty into hope. Please consider making a donation to Raphael House to help parents and children build the foundation for a secure and thriving future.