Setting Second Home for Women: Success Story of She Homes

Finding a safe and secure shelter in an unknown city is a nightmare for women who travel alone Kudumbashree provides a helping hand by providing them the comfort and security of home away home by providing “She Homes”.  Three She Homes functions at Kozhikode district of Kerala. In Kozhikode corporation itself, there are three ‘She Homes’, in prime locations of the city in the vicinity of railway station and bus stand. Kudumbashree Mission has set up a unique model of success through She Homes.  ‘She World’, the micro enterprise unit which was started during 2017 by the members of various neighbourhood groups of Eranjickal ADS (Area Development Society) of Kudumbashree Corporation North CDS (Community Development Society) runs She Homes. Smt. Smiji Nandan, Smt. Smini Babu and Smt. Nalini Prabha are the women behind this venture. A total of three She Homes are functioning in different places of Kozhikode at Mavoor Road, near Baby Memorial Hospital and near MIMS Hospital.  More than 25 are living in these three hostels.

Evolution of She Homes

One among the trio, Smt. Smiji was working as an administrator in a women’s hostel managed by another institution. It was she, who took the lead to start the new venture. It was a transition from an employee to an employer

The first hostel of She Homes was started near Parayancherry at Mavoor Road at the building near VMH Clinic during February 2017.  And later, this venture started expanding and two other hostels were also opened.  The hostel was started by availing Rs 5 lakhs as bank loan. An amount of Rs 1,05,000 was received from Kudumbashree Mission as innovation fund. The rest of the amount was mobilized individually by the unit members.  She Homes was inaugurated by the Dr. K.T.Jaleel, Minister of Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala then.

There are single rooms and big rooms upto which 6 persons could be occupied. The rent for the rooms ranges from Rs 3,500 to Rs 8,000. She Homes makes avail delicious and homely food, security, laundry service, free wifi connection etc. In addition to that, She Home set up ‘She Library’ for improving and nurturing the reading habit among their inmates. A designing centre named ‘She Style’ is functioning in the She Homes Hostel located at Mavoor Road.

The profile of the inmates ranges from students, job seekers and working women. Also, rooms are provided on daily rent for those who come to the city for a day or two, for writing exams or as part of their job. The building is taken on monthly rent and necessary changes has been made in the interior to convert it into a cosy aboard to the 85 plus inmates.  The hostel has got flexible timings.

A total of 10 Kudumbashree members hailing from Malappuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts are working in the hostel as warden, cook, helper and cleaning staff, apart from the inmates, who hail from different parts of the state. Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 is paid to them as monthly salary. Around Rs 4 lakhs is the average amount that cost for running the three hostels. The monthly turnover of She Homes is around Rs 2 lakhs. After meeting all expenses, the three members are able to get Rs 35,000 as their monthly income.

 It is the collectiveness and drive that moved these three women forward.   They are also getting enquiries, based on references from our inmates, which they consider as one of their major strengths. Word of mouth publicity is the real reason behind their success.  Rooms and premises are neat and clean and the food and other facilities that they provide are of high quality.They are also planning to start online booking facilities in the near future.

The women stick on to the vigour even when they had a struggling phase while running their venture. The self-confidence of these women would undoubtedly be a motivation for as many entrepreneurs who are looking forward to launch their own ventures.