Women’s Long-term Housing Facility Completes Renovations with CDFI Financing
Client: Jillian Giles, owner of Pearl’s Serenity House
Client Location: McKeesport, PA
CDFI: Bridgeway Capital
CDFI Service Area: PA
Financing and technical assistance, with support from the Grow with Google Small Business Fund and Google.org Grant Program
Jillian Giles founded Pearl’s Serenity House—McKeesport’s first women-only, long-term housing facility—to support survivors of domestic violence, drug abuse, and homelessness beyond the 30 days offered at most shelters. Jillian began working with Bridgeway Capital in 2018, receiving a loan to transform a vacant church into a transitional home with two bedrooms and eight double rooms. More recently, with a $100,000 Bridgeway Capital loan made possible with the Grow with Google Small Business Fund and Google.org Grant Program, Jillian was able to make further updates to the building.
With exterior renovations and repointing complete, Jillian and her staff can focus on building meaningful relationships with the women inside as they heal and establish self-sufficiency before moving on. By creating an intimate, home-like atmosphere staffed with trained counselors, Pearl’s is able to foster meaningful sisterhood and personal growth among its residents, empowering them for the next chapters of their lives.
“Bridgeway helped us provide a safe and supportive environment for women to realize a hopeful future,” said Jillian.