Rachel's Journey Home: From Living in Her Car to a Home for Her Family
After living in her car with her two children, Rachel found stability through St. Joseph Center’s SOLA program and now uses her lived experience to support women and families navigating housing instability.
In the world of social services, we often talk about giving people a “seat at the table.” For Rachel Gordon, a seat at a table wasn’t just a metaphor. It represented something her family had gone without for months: a safe place to gather, eat dinner, and simply feel at home.
For months, Rachel lived in her car with her two children while balancing the exhaustion of homelessness with the determination to stay in school and provide for her family. When she connected with an outreach worker from St. Joseph Center, her life slowly began to shift from survival toward stability.
“I felt safe knowing that I could finally have dinner with my kids, and they could do their homework at a table.”
Finding Her Seat
Through St. Joseph Center’s SOLA (South Los Angeles) Open Air program, a specialized interim housing community for families, Rachel moved into interim housing. The impact appeared in the simplest of daily routines.
Having a table meant more than having a place to eat. It represented peace, safety, and the return of everyday moments her children had been missing. For the first time in a long time, home began to feel possible again.
With the support of St. Joseph Center staff and security, Rachel found a stable foundation from which she could begin rebuilding her life.
As St. Joseph Center marks 50 years of serving Los Angeles with compassion, dignity and hope, Rachel’s story reflects how stability creates the foundation for rebuilding and growth.
Building Her Own
As Rachel settled into housing, she began mastering new life skills. She learned how to conduct housing walkthroughs, stayed diligent with follow-ups, and eventually secured her own permanent apartment.
She didn’t just wait for a door to open. She learned how to build the frame.
Today, Rachel’s journey has come full circle. Once a program participant, she now works as a family advocate, using her lived experience to support women and families navigating housing instability and helping others find the same stability she fought to achieve.
“Rachel is no longer just sitting at the table. She’s helping others build theirs.”
As part of St. Joseph Center’s 50 Stories for 50 Years of Impact, Rachel’s story reminds us that stable housing is about far more than shelter. It creates the foundation for families to heal, grow, and build a future together.
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