A Transitional Residence for Women
and Children

Elizabeth House is a transitional residence for single women and women with children who have experienced homelessness, violence, addiction or poverty. We are located in a former convent at St. Augustine Church, in the Rockridge neighborhood of North Oakland, California.

A unique aspect of Elizabeth House is that staff and residents live and work together in a co-op model.

Decisions about life in the House are made by all of the women at our weekly community House Meeting. This keeps women in control of their home life, providing an opportunity to practice effective communication and decision-making skills. Women develop a sense of their own power by using it constructively.

Unlike most homeless programs, Elizabeth House belongs to the women who live here. We do not enforce curfews and each woman has her own key to the front door and to her bedroom. This is their home.

We attempt to live as conscientiously as possible, towards each other and towards the earth. We minimize use of chemical cleaners and use only cloth towels and napkins. We recycle, redistribute and compost as much as possible, and eat locally grown foods as able.