our story
Our founder, Marletta Flowers, began to see this vision in the year 2009 after being a victim of domestic violence for many years. Marletta and her children lived in a shelter after leaving an abusive marriage. At the time of leaving her abuser, she had a high school diploma and limited skills.
During one of her hospital visits to treat injuries caused by her abuser she was introduced to a Domestic Violence Program that offered assistance and programs. Through the assistance, programs, and counseling received she was able to leave her abuser [and stay gone], attain BSA and MSA degrees in business from Lindenwood University. Marletta is married to a remarkable man, Robert Flowers, who co-founded HouZes Of Hope STL.
During a conversation held in their courting phase, Marletta shared her vision of opening a women's shelter with Robert. In turn, he shared his similar vision and gave her the name the Lord had given him years prior (HouZes Of Hope).Their combined mission, as founders, is to break the cycle of abuse through serving women and children with the dedication to meet the needs of homeless women and children who are in transition from living in a domestic violence shelter. The day Marletta fled from her abuser she had to leave the home she owned, adversely affecting her credit, and leave her place of employment to relocate to a shelter for the safety of herself and her children. Therefore, homeownership is also an integral part of the program. With a slogan of, “Bridging the Gap, One Family at a Time” HouZes of Hope STL’s goal is for women to move from shelter living to transitional housing and ultimately into homeownership.
board of directors
Marletta Flowers
CEO/Founder
Marletta Flowers’ professional background varies from decade to decade but each career path served people in some capacity. She has experience working in food service management. She also spent several years working in the medical field; working seven years as a charge CMT with direct decision making together with doctors and attending to the daily housing needs of clients in assisted living facilities and nursing homes (specializing in the area of Alzheimer’s and dementia). Following her medical profession, Marletta moved into real-estate where she worked as an agent for 14 years with a well- established, multimillion dollar real estate brokerage company. She currently is a broker/owner of her own real estate company. She holds a BSA and MSA in business from Lindenwood University. She is the wife of Robert Flowers, a mother and grandmother. Marletta’s vision for the organization is for the women and children to have a second chance to live! Living beyond what they know, getting a new mindset and a transformed life. This is a strong passion for her because she experienced the transition in her own personal life and was able to maintain the new way of life as a victor and not a victim. She is praying the same for every family that comes to HouZes Of Hope STL. Her hobbies are reading and working on crossword puzzles. A funny story behind the crossword puzzles-at a very low place in her life a loved one bought her crossword puzzles to occupy her time and allow her mind to be at peace thinking about the words on the paper and not what she was going through. The puzzles worked and then became a joy and hobby for her to do.