Sister Nora’s Place

(916) 669-7000

The Loaves and Fishes program Sister Nora’s Place, is a shelter for chronically homeless women who suffer from mental illness. These are women who are not able to stay in the traditional overnight shelter because of their mental illness which causes them to exhibit behaviors such as emotional outbursts, poor hygiene, talking to oneself, and are unable to perform shelter chores. They have shown a repeated inability to remain in large shelters for any extended period of time, if even for one night, and often have been on the streets for years.
Sister Nora’s Place utilizes a “safe haven model” to provide a safe and welcoming environment. It differs from other shelters in that it offers safety first and then access to resources once inside. Sister Nora’s Place is purposefully designed with only 13 beds to address the special needs of these women. The small size of the program allows each of the guests to create their own safe private space, allowing counselors to cater to them on an individual basis, and facilitate a sense of small community.

Guests are encouraged to pursue stabilizing activities such as psychiatric evaluation, counseling, transitioning into long-term housing, and medical assistance for any physical health problems.