The space, just under 1,000 square feet, says something about itself through the color of its walls. 

Bathed in golden yellow, two identical but separate rooms hold trundle beds, dressers and baby-changing tables for those at Haven of Peace, an emergency shelter just south of Stockton dedicated to women and their children experiencing homelessness or leaving domestic violence situations. 

The new space, named the Roos Family Health and Wellness Center, is meant to give the shelter’s residents a private place to isolate, whether because they are sick or need to be away from the shelter’s communal living spaces for other health reasons, explained Rodriguez. 

“I wanted to bring life to this place,” said shelter director Olga Rodriguez, clad in the same hue as the center’s walls, as she gave a tour to those who visited the Roos Center’s opening on Wednesday. “And color is key.”

But the new space is more than an expansion meant to provide a place to isolate when sick or care for a newborn. It’s a quiet space, meant to help residents feel at ease. 

“It’s not a building, it’s a blessing,” said Jon Hathorn, pastor at Lincoln Presbyterian, before moving into a prayer for the new center. “May it be a place of rest. May it be a place of renewal. May it be a place of recovery.” 

Residents at this shelter, who typically stay for about two weeks, can sometimes stay up to several months, said assistant director Tonya Cooper, who has been with the center for at least six years. Established in 1957 by 13 churches of different denominations across San Joaquin County, Haven of Peace operates as a dormitory, where up to 35 women and children can occupy it at once.

When the pandemic came, the shelter had to accommodate residents as best it could, said Cooper, where an empty bed was kept between each resident to create distance. It’s how the idea of the new space came to be, she added, funded by San Joaquin County grants and private donations.

“If we didn’t have the room, they would still be in that dormitory setting,” said Cooper of circumstances now, where residents still need a space to recover away from others. “The goal is to make sure everyone is well and safe.” 

For Haven board president Jodie Sheffield, the 1-acre facility, with amenities like patios and play areas and now the new health center, is where women and children can find stability. 

“We try to instill in the women that they’re worthy,” said Sheffield. “They’re worthy of this beautiful facility.”