Our center started in 1984, in response to the increasing numbers of homeless women appearing on the streets of Rockville. Rockville United Methodist Church established a daytime shelter for these women on the third floor of the church, and a nearby Presbyterian Church cared for and provided shelter for the women at night. The shelter was later moved to the former parsonage of the Jerusalem and Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church at 17 Wood Lane in Rockville.
The shelter became known as Cordelia House, named for the beloved wife of a former church pastor. Here is remained until it was destroyed by fire on February 15, 1999. At that time, the shelter was returned to the Rockville United Methodist Church until other facilities could be found. During these early years, basic human needs of food, clothing, and a place of respite were provided. The committee came to understand that just providing a place for the women was not enough.
They began to seek funds to provide a program that would move the women out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency. These plans included incorporating the shelter as an independent non-profit agency with 501(c)3 status, and applying for grants from federal, state and local governments. Further the group designed a program with the object of providing the resources and services to help these women. The shelter was incorporated under the State of Maryland law as Montgomery Avenue Women's Center. It was successful in obtaining funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and the City of Rockville.