> Home > Community & Friends > Community Connections > Civic Action

Community Connections : Civic Action

Off the streets and back on their feet

CSUDH blood runs deep at Charlotte’s House – a transitional house for homeless women and their children. Jan Bowman (M.S. Administration, 1980) created the program in 1994, and received the 1998 Alumnus of the Year Award for her efforts. Her daughter, Darlene Bowman, who attended CSUDH, works as a program director. Former Alumni Association, Inc. President Bruce Gaines is a regular visitor at the Carson house. And over the years, a handful of CSUDH staff members have passed the torch as members of the board of directors. Former Vice President of University Advancement Melba Coleman passed it to former Alumni Relations Director Jamina Barnes, who in turn, handed the responsibility to the current CSUDH representative, Linda Brown, documents processor, University Student Union.

“Bruce and Jamina and now Linda have stopped by all the time. It always gave the kids something to look forward to; they would bring the kids to a [sports event] on campus, or read to them or take them to McDonald’s. That connection to the University is so important because it shows the mothers and their children that an education is important – that there is life other than the low life,” Executive Director Bowman explains.

At Charlotte’s House, the women are required to attend school or work and are allowed to stay at the transition house for a maximum of two years. In this way, the focus is on the transition back to becoming contributing members of the community again. Like so many nonprofit programs, Charlotte’s House is always in need of basic supplies, and the University has often been there to donate them. During the 2002 holiday season, a handful of organizations including Sigma Pi fraternity and the Office of Student Life’s CSUDH Serves drove up with everything from canned goods to small area rugs to presents for the children.

Darlene Bowman, Program Director for Charlotte's House is surrounded by children of the home's Bowman and her mother have operated the halfway home for troubled women since 1995.

Brown sees how students’ involvement makes the relationship not only a positive one for those at the transition house, but for the students as well. “Volunteering is a very important part of life and helps prepare students for the real world. And to see these women return after successfully moving on is really a blessing.”

Bowman receives an estimated six calls per week from women asking for help. With space to accommodate only nine families, she does not hesitate in outlining her hopes for the future: expansion. Yet, expansion requires more space and more staff - things that always cost money. With that goal in mind, the board of directors continues to search for donations and new ways to organize fundraisers. For more information, contact Charlotte’s House at (310) 952-1189.

California State University, Dominguez Hills • 1000 E. Victoria Street • Carson, California 90747 • (310) 243-3696 If any of the material is in violation of a copyright, please contact copyright@csudh.edu. Last updated Sept 17, 2007 by the University Web Manager. Disclaimer