Mission

It is the mission of Women Overcoming Obstacles to provide a safety net for women to cope with life's issues, enabling them to become free to live and enjoy a healthy life, while overcoming obstacles.

Women Overcoming Obstacles (WOO) is a Passage Home Alumni group that has been meeting monthly for the past 4 years to help plan and evaluate programs for women and families, raise funds for children’s programs, offer guidance and support for other women coming through the program, and has become part of the Passage Home speakers bureau to help tell the success stories they have become.

WOO was formed with graduates of the Passage Home Matthew House transitional housing program for homeless families program, and the Harriet's House transitional re-entry program for women with children leaving prison. They wanted to "give back" upon gaining their life, their children, their housing, and their business opportunities as graduates of Passage Home.  To date, they continue to seek ways to "seed" our community.

WOO is a speakers' bureau for Passage Home and a voice for those who are facing obstacles due to homelessness, incarceration, physical or sexual abuse, substance abuse, poverty and barriers to employment.  They seek opportunities to tell their story and invite others to tell theirs.  Their lives reflect courage in the face of adversity and they offer hope to those who continue to see barriers rather than opportunities.

The Women of WOO have experienced and have overcome many obstacles such as substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, joblessness and therefore are in a unique position to offer support and encourage others by sharing their stories of hope.