Family Assistance Ministries, A CA Public Benefit Corp

Write a Review949-366-0357

They all might say that im lieing or upset from my own situation here, but thats not the case or true! I enteres their transitional housing program, Gilchrest, in Feb of 2012. Its a 6-12mo program for single women & women w/kids who r ready to transition into "life". I was there w/my 2boys for 10 1/2mo...Dec 2012. They tell u upon entering that they r "faith based" & even make u do bible study every Tuesday evening. The office is a mix of volunteers & employees. If u complete the program & do everything they tell u to do, u graduate & get hud to pay for ur security deposit & 1stmo rent in an apt (only in OC) u find. The office, to say the least is the unbalanced, corrupt office ive been in. If they like u, ur stay can go sumwhat smoothly. If they dont, then watch out cuz they will make sure ur life w/them is a living hell, then theyll toss u on the street (w/ kids if u hv em)! They belittled me, & made me feel like who I am is wrong. There was nvr an "lets better u", only & always a "u need to change everything abt u cause ur an awful person"! There is so much gossiping amongst the employees & nothin abt me was kept secret. They tried to make me their "success story" only to make THEM look good. They force certain meds on me for depression that I did not want to take, but made it clear if I didnt I would be kicked out! They even made an article abt me, my boy's, & our lives & sent it out to the community. It was the most depressing, draining, mentally & exhausting time of my life! The house mom Amber, if not on her good side, could make it nice for u or make it that u wished u were dead. All the while having garage sales in her driveway selling donated items that the community donated specifically for the Gilchrest hm! Its run by Mary Purdue who I really cant think of anything bad to say abt. U rarely see her but she was always pleasant & sweet. What they put my boys & I through was hell. But when you hv no where else to go, u try to get through hell w/hopes that u run into heaven in the end. & when I was out & done & needed financial assistance for a very little amt, my calls have never been returned. When they were done w/ their "success" story, they were done w/ me! I wouldnt recommend this place to anyone but unfortunately, its the largest community program for help this far south of OC! Would I do it again?...& many things I would, but this one? NO! Id rather DIE homeless & alone being ME & not what someone(s) else wanted me to be. Prepare urself if u go & get excepted & dont say u werent warned!:'( Brenda