The Mini House was named after four pioneering women.   The word MINI is an acronym derived from Marie, Iona, Nita and Inez, the founding women of Mini Twelve Step House, Inc..   These African American women worked together to acquire the necessary resources to support the vision of Mini House in 1971.    Marie Bowden, opened her home with the help of Iona, Nita and Inez to women who desperately needed to get off alcohol and drugs but had no place to live.  The Mini house was funded in 1974 and has since grown from six to thirty one beds and multiple sites with programs added to provide a complete continuum of care for women and their families.

 

The program offers a transitional living arrangement for women seeking a clean, drug-free environment for themselves and their children.  Residents lease a romm within the facility which can be share with up to two children under the age of five.  Transitional living residents agree to continue their treatment and work on their individual lifestyle goals.  The facility is currently located in South Los Angeles across from the University of Southern California and is know as University Mini House.  The house was garnered through a partnership with the City Community Development Depar6tment in 1984.

 

The late Marie Bowden was a true visionary who passed her vision onto her successors.  The current leader has been with the organization since 1989.  The organization has a dedicated board of directors that support the vision and mission.  It has obtained new heights of visibility, technology and skill for providing crucial services to a vulnerable population.  It is because of the joint leadership of the present Executive Director, Bobbi Owens, and the help of many public officials, a dedicated board of directors and friends, the Mini House still exist as a “beacon of hope” to those that have lost their way.  Thank God for the Mini House.

 

Mini House has been featured in Essence Magazine, many local papers, the L.A. Sunday Times and Cable television.  One documentary and a film “Sistuhs” have been produced to document the miracle of transformation that unfolds every day at Mini House and it’s satellite programs.  The agency and its leadership have received many awards and recognition for enlarging the vision of Mini’s founders.

 

A resale shop, G.E.D. tutoring program and outpatient prevention services have been added.  The prevention services at Solution Family Resource Center was instituted in 1984 and serves the Spa 6 inclusive of Compton, Cal. 

 

Whatever you’ve done to support Mini Twelve Step House, Inc., and it’s programs has been received with gratitude and a sense of responsibility to strive for even better programs, accountability and “positive” outcomes.

 

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  We Exist Because You Care!

 

The history of Mini House is important to the community of South Central.  We hope record and preserve its’ history.

 

We acknowledge the contribution of Ms. Iona Ford, one of Mini’s Founders.  With over 40 years of sobriety and service to the community, she has been a blazing forerunner for the recovery of women from the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction.  She is a great mentor and an amazing advocate for the health and well-being of women and families.