Eli Home

To strengthen and build resiliency in the lives of children of abuse, neglect, homelessness, poverty, mental illness, undocumented, incarcerated, or addicted parents and prepare them to lead non-violent and equitable lives through shelter, counseling, education, support, and advocacy.

The Eli Home (Eli) began in 1983, opened its shelter program in 1984 in response to a critical community need, and incorporated it in 1986. Eli pioneered the approach we still use today: we house homeless abused and neglected children and their moms and offer services to improve their relationship. Moms, often also victims of abuse, heal along with their children. Staff teach and help moms implement positive parenting skills and remove emotional, financial and legal barriers. Moms leave the shelter able to transition to permanent supportive or other stable housing and lead violence-free lives, strong champions for their children against possible abusers.

In 2008 Eli added Shared Housing for shelter program graduates unable to secure other housing (due to poor credit, lack of rental or employment history, etc.). Added in 2009, Eli's place-based East Street Community Renewal Initiative (ESCRI) targets child abuse on a systemic level by addressing unemployment and poverty, stressors that increase the likelihood of family violence, in a low income, disenfranchised, high crime area in Anaheim. ESCRI's 100 Chances program matches at-risk youth with business mentors with the goal of employment.

Eli's retail store provides operational revenue for the agency and job training for shelter moms and others at risk in the community. A natural and convenient first point of contact between staff and prospective ESCRI participants has helped Eli establish a deep connection with the community.

To address the growing problem of addiction among the homeless families we serve, Eli created the Children of Addicts Recovery Program (CARP) in 2019. Unlike any other local recovery program, CARP keeps homeless moms and children together to prevent children becoming lost in the system. Children of addicts are the “silent sufferers” of the national drug/alcohol addiction crisis and data shows they are a generation of children who are raising themselves because their parents are unable to do so.

To address the growing problem of addiction among the families served, Eli created and implemented CARP (Children of Addicts Recovery Program). Unlike any other local recovery program, CARP shelters moms going through addiction recovery, along with their children to prevent children from becoming lost in the system. Drug abuse is the single most defined cause of homelessness. Job loss is another cause, but the loss of jobs is often caused by addiction issues. The most vulnerable of the homeless population are children of addicts. They are the silent and hidden victims, whose parents are unable to properly care for them because of their drug or alcohol dependencies. This generation of children is raising themselves. Studies show that these marginalized youth face:
• Challenges in cognitive and academic functioning
• Emotional, behavioral, and social problems
• Residential and caretaker instability
• An earlier onset of substance use
• Continual risk for abuse and neglect

The Eli Home Residential Recovery Shelter provides housing and extensive case managed program services to homeless children (ages 12 and under) and their mothers with Substance Use Disorders (SUD’s). Recovering mothers may also be victims of domestic violence, and children are victims of abuse and neglect. Participants are from extremely low, very low, and low-income categories, make less than $25,000 annually from all sources, have limited or no support systems and have no other housing options. Participants come from Orange County.

Eli continues applying for private donations, foundation grants, government grants, and income derived from its store and e-commerce Amazon social enterprise. The Eli Home is board driven, with strong policy-making directors who are personally involved in its operations.

We welcome legacy donors to guarantee that abused and neglected children and their mothers will continue to have a place to heal and prepare for successful sober, independent living free from violence. "RMDs" welcome! Your tax deduction means delivery of parenting classes, financial management training, and shelter for homeless children and their moms!

Families from Anaheim and surrounding cities are served in the shelter programs.  The East Street Community Renewal Initiative targets the population located in the 3 square mile area of Anaheim, CA surrounding the organization's offices and store.

Our theme for 2025 is “Rooted in Hope, Rising with Purpose.” As we move into this exciting new chapter, The Eli Home continues to grow and evolve while remaining deeply committed to our mission. With over 45,000 children and their families impacted since our founding, we reflect on our legacy with gratitude and look to the future with bold determination. This is a season of transformation, expansion, and renewed purpose—and we’re honored to share it with you.

Tami Bradford
Executive Director

We are very proud of "our" Alex and Naya, who were one of the first families in our Anaheim shelter. Rather than my statement, I defer to Alex. Fernando Negrete, Board President.

Statement from Board Treasurer – Alex Jaso My name is Alex Jaso and I am the Eli Home Board Treasurer. I volunteer for The Eli Home because The Eli Home saved my life. I lived at The Eli Home Shelter with my mother and sister 23 years ago, in 1997, when I was 9 years old. Before going to Eli, we were homeless going from place to place. I never remember sleeping in a bed. I was always on the floor with the cockroaches and rats.

My mother became increasingly angry since my father left us and she made a meager living from cleaning houses and working in fast food. She became depressed and more violent with my sister and me, to the point that I feared for our lives.

One day, my mother attacked me and my older sister (11 years old at the time) intervened with a baseball bat, and the ensuing fight damaged the house where we were staying. Orange County Child Protective Services was called and my mother was given an ultimatum: Get mental health help or lose your children.

My mother was referred to The Eli Home and our stay there completely changed the direction of our lives. Our mom learned parenting and we all learned coping skills that made a difference in everything that happened to us since then. I went on to earn a double major in accounting and finance as well as a CPA, and I did it with no school loans. After we left the shelter, I had not returned to The Eli Home until 2011, when I volunteered for a fundraising event. I didn’t announce who I was to anyone there and I didn’t say anything about my history with The Eli Home. I just quietly did what the volunteer coordinator told me to do.

At the end of the event, I asked to see Lorri Galloway (executive director) and Kim Tulleners (Program Director). There were many tears and so much emotion. At the time when I needed it the most, they gave me their hearts, and they will always have mine. After our meeting, I was accepted to Stanford University for a masters program that was my dream come true. I continued on as a board member of The Eli Home. I graduated with my MBA in 2018 and now work in San Francisco. At some point, I’ll come back home. Back to The Eli Home. That’s where my heart is.