Community Corner

A Home for the Holidays

Tucked amongst residential homes in Pasadena, Door of Hope houses eight homeless families at a time. Overall, the house has had approximately 250 homeless families come through since it's opened.

Tommy Valenzuela never thought he’d be living out of his car. But he and his wife did—for four months.

Meanwhile, their two daughters—3 and 6—were living with grandparents in Corona.

“It was hard for me—being a man. It killed me having my kids out there,” said Valenzuela, who would take the Gold Line with his wife, Lucy, to Corona on the weekends.

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The couple had been living paycheck to paycheck—prior to being homeless—both working as drug counselors. Lucy was getting paid $9 an hour while Tommy was struggling to keep a position at a state-funded methadone clinic.  

In February, he was laid off for the second time; his family became homeless and the couple began looking for places that would take them in. 

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Luckily, there was Door of Hope in Pasadena.

Every Door has a Story

The Valenzuelas are one of approximately 250 homeless families to come through the transitional home’s doors since it opened in 1985. 

One of few in the area to accept single dads and two parent families, Door of Hope boosts a tough program. It’s occupants must be clean and sober and—most importantly—willing to work towards a better life.

From marriage counseling to budgeting classes, it’s 24/7 staff creates an individualized plan for each of the 21 families living there at any given time.

“It’s not about us telling them what to do or doing it for them,” said exucutive director Tim Peters. “It’s about them taking ownership of their future and us equipping them and empowering them to rebuild their own lives.”

And the home's philosophy seems to be working.

“We have a 100 percent success rate in the past five years of families that graduate that have not gone back into homelessness,” said Peters.

“That’s a huge testimony to what this program is really doing.”

Giving Back

It’s the Monday before Thanksgiving and a group of all ages from Lake Avenue Church are at Door Of Hope to spread some holiday cheer.

They’ve arrived with loads of delicious Thanksgiving food already cooked and ready to eat. Some are passing out the food. Others are helping young ones with homework.  

Amongst the volunteers is Nancy Rose, whose mother and father Iris and Steve Lazarian bought the 100-year home in 1985.

Having served on Door of Hope’s Executive Board for the past eight years, Rose was excited to be taking on a new role that Monday.

“It’s fun to see all these families,” said Rose of her first time eating and serving dinner at the house. “They are just amazing. Its not an easy program at all. It’s tough. And they’re successful. It makes me so happy.”

Interested in helping out? Door of Hope is still seeking family sponsors and financial donations to cover its December expenses. Learn more about donation and volunteer opportunities at Door of Hope's website HERE.


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