The mission of Women’s Empowerment is to educate and empower women who are experiencing homelessness with the skills and confidence to get a job, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and regain a home for themselves and their children. With California’s homelessness crisis at an all-time high, compounded by a housing crisis, WE has committed to a groundbreaking project.

“Our goal is for these women to prosper, save money, and move on in life, opening spaces for new graduates.” Lisa Culp, Executive Director

Addressing housing is critical to all other aspects of WE’s mission. Rather than waiting for others to someday build more affordable housing, WE is taking charge. Board member Nikky Mohanna of Mohanna Development Company is developing a new residential project to provide housing for WE graduates looking to get a foothold in life. MDC is donating land to the project within blocks of public transportation, a park, a school and the WE Center’s wraparound services.

“Every day, we see WE graduates get jobs but still not be able to afford housing, so we’re building workforce housing for 50-60 graduates and their families, focusing on the women who have jobs yet can’t afford market-rate housing,” explains Lisa Culp, WE’s executive director. “The city and state have called for community solutions for housing, and that’s exactly what we’re building.”

This transitional housing project, with innovative design, will be invaluable for women making major life improvements and an asset to the whole community. “We’re facilitating community and accountability, with resident counsel and property managers on site,” says Culp. “Our goal is for these women to prosper, save money and move on in life, opening spaces for new graduates.”

“Most affordable housing costs between $450,000 and $600,000 per unit,” Culp says, “but by securing private funding and having the city of Sacramento waive fees, we’re able to get this done for $90,000 per unit.” WE has already leveraged $4.5 million of this $7.5 million project and welcomes any contributions from the business community.