The mission of Barrett Foundation is to provide housing and supportive services to women and children who are striving to break the cycle of homelessness. Who We Serve Every day, homeless women and children turn to us for help. Most of them are here because of poverty and have sought temporary housing with family, in apartments, in motels, and in their cars. Other causes of homelessness include personal tragedy, trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse. Today’s economy, particularly housing foreclosures, has had large effect on women and their children.