Whether by poverty, abuse, or addiction, there are many homeless women who have no one to turn to. Willow Place, an emergency homeless shelter for women, received the Open Hearts, Open Purses $10,000 grant in 2021 to help meet the needs of these women. Located in Anderson, Willow Place serves women in all of Madison County who are homeless or near homelessness.
Established in September 2019, Willow Place offers shelter for women in a communal setting for up to 10 women. However, with the new grant, Willow Place was able to expand their facility by adding a fire suppression system to space previously used for storage. The improvement expands the facility to offer more private living spaces for up to a dozen more women. In addition to this, women with children will also be able to be taken in.
Willow Place provides a sense of security, safety, and hope for women who are in need. They offer a warm and comfortable place to stay, as well as additional services for women transitioning to independent living.