From Louis Nine House to a Life of Service

Matthieu-Amanda grew up in foster care, facing instability and hardship at a very young age. They had never known a safe, consistent home—until Louis Nine House (LNH) became a stable place where support was always within reach. “Staff supported me at my own pace,” they recall, and that care gave them the foundation to imagine a future beyond survival. 

While at LNH, Matthieu-Amanda earned an associate degree, becoming the first college graduate among the residence’s initial 48 tenants. After living at LNH for three years, they moved into independent housing, earned a scholarship, and went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. 

A year ago, Matthieu-Amanda founded In Gentle Hands, a small business that helps vulnerable members of the community reclaim safe, manageable, and organized spaces. They started by using the cleaning supplies their clients already had, gradually purchasing their own tools as they were able, in hopes of expanding their services. Matthieu-Amanda provides deep-clean “reset” services, decluttering and organizing, and support for homes in crisis, all delivered with a gentle, trauma-informed approach. The business also offers two free services each month for people who cannot afford support. Matthieu-Amanda hopes to grow the initiative by creating guides for maintaining spaces after a reset, offering professional trainings, and teaching others how to approach cleaning people’s spaces through a trauma-informed lens.  

We are grateful that LNH could be a safe space for Matthieu-Amanda to land and grow when they needed it, giving them the stability to focus on their goals and imagine what was possible for their future. It is inspiring to see how they have carried this idea forward through their work by helping others feel safe, supported, and empowered in their own spaces.