You try to ignore it—to not worry about things before they actually become a problem—but most of us are one unexpected stroke of bad luck away from a housing crisis. That’s what happened to Rachel earlier this year. And that's why I'm asking for your help.
Rachel had a good job that paid a decent wage when she got COVID. After missing several days of work, her daughter also got sick. Rachel stayed home to care for her. She lost her job as a result of these unexpected absences because the COVID employment protections had ended. She was forced to decide between keeping her job and protecting her health, her daughter’s health, and the health of all of the people she would have had to interact with if she went to work sick.
Quickly, the choice between her job and health turned into a choice between her job, health, and home. With finances already stretched thin as a single mom, Rachel didn’t have enough money to pay rent after she lost her job. Her landlord evicted her and, for the first time in her life, she was homeless.
Rachel was able to find a place of respite at Haven Housing, staying for several weeks at St. Anne’s Place emergency family shelter, which is one of just two family shelters serving all of Hennepin County. At Haven Housing, she felt safe, processed the emotion of losing her job and her housing, and began thinking about the future.
At Haven Housing, Rachel and her daughter had a place to sleep and three healthy meals every day. Just as importantly, they always felt welcomed by the staff. Rachel worked with staff to prepare for her job search, earn her driver’s license, and make sure her daughter was registered and ready to begin kindergarten.
Rachel is not letting her experience with homelessness define her. She has dreams and is working hard to achieve them, including preparing to go back to school and pursue a degree in criminal justice.
Will you give today to make sure that women and children can recover from an unexpected crisis? Your generosity will help families like Rachel's. As long as our economy forces moms to choose between their families, jobs, and basic needs, Haven Housing will be a place for women and children to stabilize and explore options for their future.
Because everyone deserves a haven.