“For me and my kids, I had to do it myself,” said Adrienne about her decision to leave her home with her two children, Alexander (13) and Asonus (3). She shared, “I didn’t want help from friends and family; I wanted to stand on my own two feet.”
At first, she felt ashamed and upset about having to seek emergency shelter at Haven Housing @ St. Anne’s Place. But, then, she recalls feeling immediate relief when she saw all the opportunities for growth Haven Housing offered. The staff knew what she was going through. She said, “I didn’t think some of the staff there had been through a lot of the things they have [experienced in their life]. It was definitely hope and light at the end of the tunnel to hear these [staff] telling their stories; and there they were, helping people, with the same shoes as you.” She knew she had made the right choice to leave home.
Privacy was key to Adrienne and her family’s healing. “No one knew I was there that didn’t need to know. [Haven Housing] was very good at keeping privacy. It gave me time and strength to focus on what I needed to do—things as small as getting my kid into daycare, to finally getting a house to live in. It was baby steps; it took a long time but definitely worth it.”
Adrianne’s children warmed up to staff and other shelter guests and they were able to participate in the activities they enjoyed the most. “My son Alexander was interested in football when we got [to Haven Housing]. He got to go to football camp, he played for a team, and the staff was really helpful in getting him to and from the games—me too. We had an awesome time [at the games]. That was good for him; he needed that, and now he wants to keep playing football.”
After seven months at Haven Housing, Adrienne and her family moved into their own home and are now adapting to their new routine. “It's going pretty good! We have a lot of room. My kids are happy and attending school, and my oldest son is like ‘good job.’”
Adrienne keeps close contact with other families who stayed at Haven Housing @ St. Anne’s Place at the same time as she did. She said, “I talk to quite a few of them, a good 12 of those ladies. All the information I get I pass along, we teach each other things.”
While looking for work, Adrianne wants to help other people. She said, “When I am in a better place, I'd like to improve things, make things even better, more information, more resources, and more help because stuff happens, and sometimes when it rains it pours. I'd like to help, and give back, and do something kinda like [Haven Housing] did for me.”
As a message to those who stay at Haven Housing in the future, Adrienne shared, “have patience, it will happen. Just do what you have to do and it will happen. And when it happens, a lot happens.”
For Adrienne, her time at St. Anne’s Place provided a respite to focus on what was most important to her and her family. “[Staff] helped so much with school, daycare, sports, and transportation. So many things that helped to take the load a little off me so I could focus on finding housing and stuff like that, time for me to do what I needed to do for my family.”
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