On an average day the Lighthouse bustles with activity as women dress little ones in school uniforms, curl hair, tie bows, serve breakfast, search for booksacks...all while trying to get themselves ready for work. And even though they are single mothers, all the women work together as a family.

Tuesday morning the smell of hot Pop-tarts and coffee mingled with a light scent of bleach from the completed morning chores. An exhausted LaToya Joseph, 22, cuddled seven-day-old Jatavia in one arm struggling to dress her daughter when her two-year-old son darted away, and one of the other ladies stepped in to help.

LaToya said, "This is a wonderful shelter. At first when I came here I was feeling down and out, but once I got to know everyone things became a lot better for me. They have even helped me to get a place for me and my kids, and I would advise anyone who is in a situation like myself to come here and get back on their feet, because that's what this shelter does for people."

Franchesca Charles, 26, agrees. "I was always a good mother to my children and I never thought I would have to go any place like the Lighthouse. The day I walked in I was scared, but when I saw how clean and nice the dining room was, I thought to myself, 'This will be the table where my family eats together.' When I saw our bedroom I knew we didn't have to worry about where we would sleep. My kids were still hungry but they were running around so happy because we weren't going to be on the streets."

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