To inspire the community through education, innovation and the development of resources to end homelessness for women on the Monterey Peninsula.
The women we support are part of the mosaic of our community—they are our neighbors, sisters, mothers, grandmothers—yet they often face homelessness completely alone. These are unaccompanied homeless women: without shelter, support, and too often, with no one to turn to.
You’ve likely shared a sidewalk or checkout line with a woman who had nowhere safe to sleep that night. She may be sleeping in her car after finishing a shift, or attending classes by day while returning to a tent at night. These women are everywhere—yet often unseen.
The Fund for Homeless Women provides grants to trusted local organizations offering safe shelter, food, clothing, and essential health services. We also provide scholarships for unsheltered women of any age striving to reclaim their lives.
These women are strong. But no one should have to be strong alone.
Your support helps them take the next step—with dignity, opportunity, and hope.
The Fund for Homeless Women (FHW) was established to help create and support services for unsheltered women on the Monterey Peninsula, including the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Seaside, Sand City, Marina, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur. We also provide educational scholarships to unhoused women living in Monterey County who are attending Monterey Peninsula College, Hartnell College, California State University Monterey Bay, or accredited online classes.
What moves me most is the extraordinary resilience I see in women facing homelessness. Despite unimaginable hardship, many still carry hope—and the determination to change their lives. They reach out for connection, for support, for a path forward. And that’s where the Fund for Homeless Women steps in. When I first learned how many women are living without shelter—completely on their own—I was stunned. I had no idea… and now I can’t look away. For over 13 years, we’ve provided more than $2.5 million to support services and offer scholarships that directly impact homeless women across the Monterey Peninsula. These resources are not just a handout—they’re a hand up. I’m deeply honored to support the Fund for Homeless Women. It’s one of the most meaningful ways I know to invest in real change, one woman at a time. — Donna Ferraro, Advocate and Supporter of the Fund for Homeless Women
- Donna Ferraro, Pebble Beach, CA
