Safe Haven & empowerment for Lifelong Learning (S.H.E.L.L) is a Non-Profit Organization designed to provides support services for mothers who are physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or sexually abused that have dependent children to raise on their own through real estate rehabilitation projects.
The unique method for empowering women is the first nonprofit of its kind to help battered women reclaim their identity and live independently through owning real estate properties in their own names.
The SHELL program will offer rent-to-own homes at a very low cost and accept a minimal down-payment for newly empowered women to buy their residence and assist those who wish to legally change their names and all their identity information in order to prevent them from being found by their abusers. The intention is give women who are residing in temporary shelters a safe and secure piece of real estate property which they can one day call their own. SHELL will help each qualified applicant start a new independent and successful life, full of support and encouragement, and free of abuse. Through home ownership, SHELL women will learn to become more independent, self-sufficient, and able to solve their own personal and financial problems without depending on partners or mates
The unique method for empowering women is the first nonprofit of its kind to help battered women reclaim their identity and live independently through owning real estate properties in their own names.
The SHELL program will offer rent-to-own homes at a very low cost and accept a minimal down-payment for newly empowered women to buy their residence and assist those who wish to legally change their names and all their identity information in order to prevent them from being found by their abusers. The intention is give women who are residing in temporary shelters a safe and secure piece of real estate property which they can one day call their own. SHELL will help each qualified applicant start a new independent and successful life, full of support and encouragement, and free of abuse. Through home ownership, SHELL women will learn to become more independent, self-sufficient, and able to solve their own personal and financial problems without depending on partners or mates
The Founder
Paulette Rosario Santos, an Army veteran of 24 years, which spans 35 years, is the master mind behind SHELL. She originally served on Active Duty as a helicopter mechanic, and then continued in the US Army Reserves as a Drill Sergeant, as an instructor at Drill Sergeant Academy; a Linguistics NCO for the United States Army Civil Affairs Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC) in Germany prior to 9/11/2001. After the 9/11 attack, Santos was mobilized and served a stateside tour as a Detachment Sergeant in a Military Police Brigade.
Santos is scheduled to earn her Doctoral in Management in September 2018 from Colorado Technical University, where she also earned her MBA with a 4.0 GPA. She earned her Bachelor degree in Technical Management as Cum Laude from DeVry University. She received journalism awards from Diablo Valley College where she earned her AA degree, and video production awards from California State University in Hayward.
The mascot and symbol for SHELL is a Purple Butterfly. Purple is the color theme to stop domestic abuse. When a caterpillar emerges from its cocoon, it is no longer a caterpillar. It is a butterfly. It has a whole new name because it has a whole new identity. These women also want to emerge from their old cocoon. They sometimes want a name change but have no idea how to change their driver’s license, passport, social security card, and credit cards. SHELL program will help women transform into new beings, as butterflies do.
Once these women are empowered, they are encouraged to come back and mentor others in need. Empowered women can tell their stories of survival, victory, and enlightenment to help other women going thru the same dark tunnel that they once faced.
Santos is scheduled to earn her Doctoral in Management in September 2018 from Colorado Technical University, where she also earned her MBA with a 4.0 GPA. She earned her Bachelor degree in Technical Management as Cum Laude from DeVry University. She received journalism awards from Diablo Valley College where she earned her AA degree, and video production awards from California State University in Hayward.
The mascot and symbol for SHELL is a Purple Butterfly. Purple is the color theme to stop domestic abuse. When a caterpillar emerges from its cocoon, it is no longer a caterpillar. It is a butterfly. It has a whole new name because it has a whole new identity. These women also want to emerge from their old cocoon. They sometimes want a name change but have no idea how to change their driver’s license, passport, social security card, and credit cards. SHELL program will help women transform into new beings, as butterflies do.
Once these women are empowered, they are encouraged to come back and mentor others in need. Empowered women can tell their stories of survival, victory, and enlightenment to help other women going thru the same dark tunnel that they once faced.
Donate Now
