A sense of Home (ASOH)

A Sense of Home is a non-profit organization (501c 3) based in Hawthorne, California which began 2015.  Their mission is to create homes for foster youth who have aged out of the foster care system.  The organization utilizes furniture, housewares and monetary donations to create a first home for selected recipients.  Most ASOH recipients are between 18-24 years old (41% are working, 24% are in school, 17% are working and in school, 13% are the primary caregiver).

In addition to the creation of a new home, ASOH also offers:

  • Ongoing Resources for Alumni to support their stability
  • Access to Individual Therapy and Wellbeing Programs
  • Pay-It-Forward Alumni Program
  • Scholarship Program
  • Financial Literacy Trainings
  • Empowerment Workshops
  • Annual Events for Alumni
  • No “aging out” of services
  • Resources for Parents

A SENSE OF HOME VISION

  • That a home full of hope, dignity, and love is the first step in homeless prevention.
  • To envision a society where the excess of businesses and individuals are shared through a community experience with those in need of “home”
  • To envision a world where furniture and appliances are never sent to landfills, but always given a second life.
  • Belief that homelessness can be eradicated through active participation by all community stakeholders when focusing on prevention.

AAUW INVOLVEMENT

AAUW first learned about ASOH when in 2024 one of our members, Hazel Lord, brought it to the attention of the Ruth Bloland Women Helping Women group (RBWHW) and it was decided to ask members for gently used bathroom and kitchen houseware donations.  The response was overwhelming and a great success.  A subcommittee was then formed under the auspices of RBWHW to see what direction it might take and plans now involve giving Holiday Donations to selected recipients and continuing to provide Kitchen/Bathroom Kits in the future.  AAUW is now committed to continue helping these young people through our work with ASOH and we depend upon donations to accomplish our goals.

If you wish to learn more about A Sense of Home, please go on their website:  www.asenseofhome.org. Anyone wishing to donate, please contact Elayne Nahman at (310) 541-6839