About – Sisu Living House

Empowering Women to Rebuild Their Lives

Sisu Living House provides a safe, structured environment where women can heal, grow, and achieve lasting independence through support, stability, and life skills development.

About Us

At Sisu Living House, we offer a sanctuary devoted to your journey towards recovery, renewal, and a brighter future.

Our foundation is built upon three fundamental principles: absolute intolerance towards harmful behaviors, steadfast personal responsibility, and profound respect for your inherent dignity. We firmly believe in providing everyone with the opportunity for redemption and the chance to rebuild their lives anew. We understand this drive to start anew requires one to be in sisu: having determination, willpower, bravery, courage, tenacity, and resilience.

Within our walls, you’ll encounter a nurturing community of peers and professionals dedicated to your triumph. We anticipate your full dedication to your path of recovery and healing, embracing the opportunity to learn and evolve alongside others. While we recognize the challenges ahead, rest assured, we’re here to accompany you every step of the way.

Our Vision & Mission

At Sisu Living House, we are committed to empowering women through a supportive and structured environment. Our vision and mission guide everything we do to help individuals rebuild their lives with stability, purpose, and independence.

Organizational updates & impact summaries are available upon request.

Sisu Living House is a NARR Level II Certified Recovery Residence.

The Vision

To be the leading supportive transitional living environment for individuals and families, empowering them to achieve complete freedom and wholeness in their lives.

The Mission

To provide a safe, clean, and cost-effective transitional living setting that supports our clients in achieving their personal and recovery goals through structured support and community.

Who are we?

Sisu is a Finnish word that means bravery, determination, courage, and willpower. Sisu Living House is a resource for women ready to start their new beginning.

Sisu Living House is a structured sober living and transitional housing program for women, with locations in Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina.

We provide a safe, substance-free shared living environment where women can focus on stability, healing, and personal growth while working toward independent living.

Sisu Living House is not an emergency shelter or drop-in housing program. Clients participate in a structured community environment that includes:

Meet The Founder

The origin story of Sisu Living House began with my work as a Neonatal ICU Director, where I often collaborated with social workers to find transitional housing for women in need. Through this work, I became acutely aware of the barriers these women faced. Many times, we struggled to secure the support they needed, and this sparked a passion in me to find a solution.

This journey led me to establish Her Sisu LLC, where I began creating evidence-based resources to support women on their path to freedom and wholeness. Over time, I felt a calling to expand this vision, and that’s how Sisu Living House was born. The house a safe and transformative space where women, regardless of their need, can receive support to rebuild their lives.

Fast forward to my own experience with domestic violence, where I faced the challenges of escaping a harmful situation. I was fortunate to have a safe space to return to, and the reality that so many women do not have this same safety weighed heavily on me. It was this experience that deepened my passion and fueled my desire to create a space where women could find refuge and support when they need it most.

Today, Sisu Living House operates as a structured sober and transitional living program where women are supported with community, accountability, and resources as they rebuild stability and independence. I am deeply grateful to see this vision come to life and to serve the women who walk through our doors.

2026 BBB Spark Award Winner

Meet the Team

Ailin Ortiz Escoto

I serve as an Administrative Assistant at Sisu Living House, where I support daily operations, communication, organization, and program coordination. I bring professional experience in immigration case management, with a focus on VAWA cases, where I developed strong skills in advocacy, confidentiality, documentation, and client-centered support. I am also completing my education with a Master’s in Development Economics, driven by my desire to become a positive asset to my community and contribute to work that creates meaningful impact.

I chose to be part of Sisu Living House because of my interest in nonprofit organizations and the value they bring to communities. I am passionate about building a career rooted in service, structure, and purpose. I bring organization, accountability, and a “get-it-done” mindset to the team. My guiding quote is “Unity over self,” which reminds me that meaningful change happens when we work together toward something greater than ourselves. I want every person entering Sisu Living House to know that we want them to succeed.

Tauheedah Hawkins

I serve as the Community House Manager at Sisu Living House, where I have the privilege of creating a safe, structured, and encouraging environment for women rebuilding their lives. My professional background is in legal operations, program management, compliance, and systems development. I chose to join Sisu because I believe everyone deserves a safe place to heal, grow, and rediscover what’s possible for their future.

I bring structure, accountability, compassion, and a calm, solutions-focused approach, always striving to meet each person with dignity and respect.

One philosophy that guides me is: “Time management is life management.” I believe how we spend our time shapes the lives we build.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our two children, and our French Bulldog, Ramen. Music is my happy place, and I’m an unapologetic Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Beyoncé fan. Fair warning-I will happily defend their greatness in just about any conversation. I want every person entering Sisu Living House to know that you are more than your past, your story still matters, and you never have to walk your journey alone.

Policies & Procedures

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