YWCA Program Helps Homeless Women

man begging on a corner? in el paso, the y-w- c-a reports more than half the homeless population are moms and their children. our stephanie valle spoke to a woman who made a tough choice — that put her young family on the streets. it’s a story you’ll see only on abc- seven: 2.23 he came one night really drunk and he just started abusing me. 2.30 that was “jacqueline’s” life for the la four years. 1.57 but it was getting worse and i thought, he’s going to kill me one day.2.02 kept me with him was i didn’t have anyone to take care of my kids. daughters — ages 4, 2 and a half, and 9 months. the reason she stayed — and the reason she left. 3.08 it was hard making the decision. i was afraid of losing my job. of losing everything. 3.16 she walked out a month ago — but had nowhere to go. 50 i stayed in my car for two days with my daughters. 55 how hard was it to sleep in your car that first night? 2.47 they cried a lot. it was really hard. i had to go to a gas station so they could go to the restroom. it was really hard. 2.59 if a mother with children is homeless, the authorities are going to step in to take her children. so that’s something she has to hide. 2.46 hoping to help women transition out of terrible situations like jacqueline’s — the ywca organized a fundraiser called “no fixed address.” 38 i solidarity for that situation, we’re asking them to sleep in their cars, or outdoors, if they can manage. “organizers know that it’s not typical fundraiser. but they think that having participants sleep in their car will be truly impactful.” 3.15 this is not an easy thing to ask people to do. we understand not everyone wants to brave the cold. it’s clearly not a comfortable sleeping situation. so we’re excited that anyone wants to participate. 3.29 meantime, jacqueline is at the ywca’s sara mcknight transitional living center — thankful for the opportunity to get out of her car and on her feet. 4.00 i’m living a peaceful life. 4.01 a life with a brighter future for everyone. sv, abc-7. the event benefiting the transitional living center is this friday. registration is 25 dollars.