On Valentine’s Day, Project HOME opened its 1,001st residence — Joyce’s Place — which will house 25 women who experienced homelessness and who have a disability, writes Vicky Diaz-Camacho for WHYY.

The new Wynnefield residence’s namesake is Joyce Moran, a former volunteer with Women of Change at Project HOME who passed away in 2009 after a years-long battle with ovarian cancer.

According to her daughter Lauren Moran Kleinz, its opening on Valentine’s Day embodies who her mom was.

“It’s a universal day of love, and I think as my mom would say, ‘The greatest way of showing love is taking care of others and doing for others,’” Moran Kleinz said.

The 14,000-square-foot home is listed on the Historical Society of Pennsylvania records, as it once housed retired actors before becoming an assisted living center, and now Project HOME’s newest residence.

Project HOME co-founder Sister Mary Scullion said the move from its previous location on 20th & Arch Streets helps support people coming off the street better, and the majority of residents will have their own room.

“When you come in off the street, such a traumatic experience, that having your own room, it really helps a lot in the healing process,” she said.

Read more about Project HOME’s newest residence in WHYY.

_____