A HOUSE FOR HELP AND HOPE HOME FOR TEEN MOMS, MOSTLY COMPLETE, NOW NEEDS MORE FUNDING.

Byline: CHARLES F. BOSTWICK Staff Writer

LITTLEROCK -- A Roman Catholic order of nuns and community activists are turning a 24-bedroom former facility for mentally retarded persons into a home for young unwed mothers, targeting teens who have left Los Angeles County's foster-care system.

A rambling single-story home, St. Joseph's Manor has space for up to 24 mothers and 68 children, who would stay two years while the women finish their high school education, get job training and save money from their welfare payments.

``We need something for the single mothers with children,'' said Sister Maria Clotilde, a member of the Augustinian Recollect teaching order. ``When they turn 18 they have to go somewhere. Some of them go into homelessness or prison because they don't know what to do.''

Approved by Los Angeles County planners in March, the home has been cleaned, painted and furnished with the help of volunteers and donations -- but it lacks the operational cash to open.

In the process of forming a nonprofit corporation, St. Joseph's supporters have applied for a Los Angeles County grant to operate the home, are organizing fundraisers and are seeking individuals to pledge regular contributions.

``If we had money to open we could do it tomorrow,'' Sister Maria said.

Expected to cost about $1.4 million a year to run, the home is intended to teach young mothers age 18 to 27 parenting, money management and job skills, aimed at keeping them and their children off welfare.

``Something has to be done to end the generational cycle of poverty,'' said Linda Vasquez, special projects administrator for United Desert Charities, who is ``on loan'' from the organization to work for St. Joseph's Manor.

In the Antelope Valley, about 60 or 70 18-year-olds leave the foster care system annually, of whom 10 or 15 are young women with children of their own, said Virginia Nations, Los Angeles County Children and Family Services transitional resource coordinator for foster youth in the Antelope Valley.

The largest category of homeless people in the United States are former foster youth, she said.

``Thirty percent become homeless in the first six months after they leave foster care,'' Nations said.

Vasquez and Sister Maria said the home has had tremendous support from local residents and organizations, including St. Mary's in Palmdale, Sacred Heart in Lancaster and Living Stone Cathedral of Worship in Littlerock, since refurbishment started in February.

Some 75 people from Edwards Air Force Base worked hours Saturday cleaning and repairing.

Organizations, families and individuals have ``adopted'' bedrooms, which they decorated with murals and colorful quilts and curtains. Furnished with a single bed for the mother and a crib or small bed or bunk beds for her children, the rooms have names like ``Comfort,'' ``Hope,'' and ``Joyful Dreams.''

The home also contains a commercial-style kitchen, a homework room and a reading room with shelves of books.

The Augustine Recollect sisters had been in Lancaster three years running homes for elderly and mentally ill people, and in 2004 opened a child-care center in Littlerock, across the street from St. Joseph's Manor.

St. Joseph's residents will not be required to participate in religious services, Vasquez said.

``This is not a pray-to-eat place,'' she said.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Sister Maria Clotilde, above, sits in one of the many bedrooms Monday at St. Joseph's Manor in Littlerock. The establishment, if and when it opens, will offer homes for young single mothers. Volunteer coordinator Linda Vasquez, below, looks at some of the finishing touches placed in one of the rooms.

(3) Sister Maria Clotilde points out a phrase painted on the wall of the facilities chapel at St. Joseph's Manor. The facility is still in the process of being converted from a mentally retarded persons home to a shelter for young unwed mothers who need help.

(4) From left, Elijah Blanco, 2, and Cole Crawford, 2, both of Littlerock, build blocks Monday with Elijah's mother, volunteer Eva Blanco, at the Holy Child Education and Childcare Center across the street from St. Joseph's Manor in Littlerock.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News