Carmen lived at House of Ruth as a young girl. Her mother, Blanca, moved the family into the shelter when Carmen was 6. Carmen remembers being at the house, and a few moments stick out in her memory as especially happy. One of her favorite memories was Christmas time. She remembers Santa Claus came and brought presents. She received a big doll that was as tall as she. "It was my height!" she says with a smile on her face.
Carmen also remembers her mother’s case manager, also named Carmen. She was excited to share a name with someone so wonderful. Carmen was one of her favorite people here. She told her stories and tried to motivate her by asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Even as a 6 year-old, life changed for Carmen at House of Ruth. She says that all of a sudden there were more people and more kids to play with. It taught her how to interact with people of other races.
Carmen says that she would have her children go through the same thing because she trusts everyone at the house, and because it was a good experience for her. She says, “When I was 17 I became pregnant. I never had a doubt that I could do it.” She knew this from the fact that her mother was young when she had children, and she was confident that she could raise her children because there were places like House of Ruth that would help her.
Carmen has lived in Los Angeles her whole life and thanks God for all the good work House of Ruth has done for the community. House of Ruth has changed Los Angeles from a place of despair to a place of hope for many families. She believes that without House of Ruth, more women and children would be suffering.
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