Jillian Segal

By Eileen Winters

On Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood stands a pink building that has been a landmark for 28 years, “Al’s Furniture” Al Siegel is the owner. Jillian Segal (different spelling), his wife, is the stunning blonde actress who can be seen on the cable commercials for Al’s Furniture.

From their pink landmark has sprung another landmarks the “Women’s Care Cottage.” Al and Jillian have created a haven for homeless women and their children.

The Women’s Care Cottage was born to help women find a path that will lead them out of their desperate lives, to restore their dignity and independence, and to care for their children while they are seeking employment, learning new skills, or finishing their education. These women who, through a series of crises such as illness, accident, job loss, or desertion, find themselves without shelter, without income, and without hope. They are provided with basic necessities, rehabilitation, and care for their children with a day care center and a child care center, and a temporary home in a comfortable house (Women’ s Care Cottage) to help them get on their feet. They regain one of the most valuable of human needs — self-esteem.

I attended a benefit for the Women’s Care Cottage at the Lunaria restaurant, which was one of the sponsors, along with Women in Film and Al’s Furniture Just another do-good organization. I thought, on my way to Lunaria Nothing had prepared me for what I was about to discover. I expected only well-meaning people trying to make a better world nice people banding together in a good cause. I never expected to lose my heart, nor did I expect to be so inspired. so much that I want to tell the world that life can be better for unfortunate women and children who need all the help that we can give. the Women’s Care Cottage, and the people who work on this amazing project, can make miracles and change lives.

Most of us have no idea what it would be like to be homeless, destitute, stranded on a wrong turn your life has taken. We cannot know until it happens, when you or someone in your family may need help. Such tragedies can happen in any strata of life. None of us is exempt.

I can understand how a woman can be Pulled into an abyss. Someone in my own family experienced the horror Of being a battered wife. My relative did have a family, but she was ashamed to tell us that she was a victim of brutality and violence. Typical of the “battered wife” syndrome, she was brainwashed, made to believe that she was “no good” and deserved the beatings. She had no money, and with three small children, nowhere to run. Finally, one day, after countless beatings, her husband kicked her in the presence of the children, telling them, “Your mother’s no damn good.” The kick was not the worst of the physical abuse he had inflicted on her, but his words finally broke the long succession of physical abuse. She sought help from her family, and began an uphill struggle to raise her children alone. This took place in the sixties, and there was no Women’s Care Cottage organization to help her and give her the opportunity to learn how to reconstruct her life.

Now, thanks to Al Siegel and Jillian Segal homeless women and children can be given the chance to face the future with security and strength. Al’s Furniture, Inc. has given away over a quarter of a million dollars worth of furniture to needy families in the last five years. None of these contributions were written off for tax purposes.

The residence cares for more than 100 women and children every year. 75 percent of them find permanent housing; half of them find employment while they are in the shelter. The day center serves 6,000 homeless women and children a year, and the child care center provides care for 46 children. ages two to five, annually. Al and Jillian had a dream, and they brought it to life. If you’d like to help with the dream, call San Fernando Valley Friends of Homeless Women and Children at 818-786-7830.