This month we’re sharing three stories from St. Anne’s Place staff and the mothers they have had the privilege to serve in their work. Thanks to staff and guests for sharing their stories!
Resilience & Motivation
One of the most rewarding parts of working at St. Anne’s Place is seeing the resilience and motivation in the mothers we serve. One resident in particular comes to mind who was searching for employment. During her stay she had multiple interviews in which she either did not get a call back or didn’t get the job. On top of those disappointments, Covid-19 added the challenges of virtual interviews and technology frustrations for this resident. The virtual job interviews added to her stress, but she stayed motivated and kept on trying. One morning I helped her get set up in the tutor lab and she said she was feeling alright about it and not too stressed. I told her to let me know if she needed anything. Shortly after she came to let me know she was having issues getting into her email and could not get to the Zoom link. We had to troubleshoot and figure out the issue, and by the time we were able to get into her email it was past the time for her interview. She was eventually able to get on and the interviewer was understanding. Although all of this was stressful, her interview went well and she told me later that week that she got the job! It is so exciting to watch residents achieve their goals during their stay here.
-Breanna, St. Anne’s Place Advocate
Motherhood At St. Anne’s
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Though I am not religious, I am reminded of this scripture when in the presence of motherhood that lives throughout St. Anne’s.
One family consists of a young boy and his mother. The boy throws himself onto the ground; he uses all his might to scream and shout. Mom sits on the ground next to him, unfazed. Using a soothing voice, she gently guides him into a state of calm so contagious that I too am at peace.
Another family consists of one boy, one girl, and their mom. The boy and girl jump in glee and excitement as staff enters the room. The boy throws an object across the room and immediately, mom raises her voice. Before she is done, the boy cuts her off and apologizes. Mom takes a long breath and tells him that it is alright. He continues to stare at mom apologetically and she responds with gentle eyes.
The next family consists of a baby boy and his mom. Occasionally, mom would drop the baby boy off to the office to take a quick break. As she rings the doorbell to come back inside, the baby boy’s eyes go wide and he screams in excitement, having associated that distinct sound with his mom who is waiting at the door. Before mom can step inside, his arms reach out and he latches onto her as she gently catches him in her arms.
Though I have never experienced motherhood personally, I am witness to the kindness, patience, strength, and selflessness it encompasses because of the motherhood that lives throughout St. Anne’s.
- G.Y.Y., Advocate, St. Anne’s Place
Sit with Me
I walked more quickly than I usually would up three flights of stairs and told one of our residents she needed to call her family right away. Her mother had suddenly passed away, and her family had been unable to reach her to relay the news.
This is one of the parts of our job no one can really prepare you for.
Another staff member and I waited downstairs so our resident could make the phone call. A few minutes later, she quickly walked down the stairs and out the door to the back yard. And something told me there was a chance she didn’t want to be alone after hearing of her mother’s passing.
So, I walked up to her and asked quietly if she’d rather be alone, or if she needed someone to sit with her.
She invited me to sit.
And looking back, I recognize that this exact instance — this time of sitting on a bench with her in silence, and listening as she spoke — is truly the pinnacle of what it means to do our work. To work in a shelter day to day, to meet resident needs, to be a listening ear and, when needed, a helping hand to those we encounter.
I recognized then and I recognize now, that when this resident reflects back on her life and her journey, the day her mother passed away, she will remember me as the one who sat next to her on that bench. And, on a broader scale, when she reflects back on her life, her time at St. Anne’s will be a memory accompanied by each instance of staff support we offered — each good day, and each difficult day in shelter. As staff we have the task of doing right by our residents, and trying our best to make each of their days in shelter the best day possible, given their present circumstances. This is a task none of us takes lightly, and one that is truly a privilege.
Our residents make a difference in our lives as staff, too; I’d argue just as much, if not more than we can ever make a difference in theirs. Because when I reflect back on my life and my journey, I too will get the chance to remember sitting on that bench with our resident that day.
Not many people have the opportunity to be in the midst of some of the best and worst moments of others’ lives as part of their job, but working in a shelter environment, we do. And at Haven Housing, we get to do so as part of an organization that is dedicated to compassionate, trauma-informed, and dignified service, which makes it even more rewarding to do what we do. For while oftentimes the hard days far exceed the easy ones working in human services, the hardest days sometimes make the biggest impact — even if just sitting in silence on a bench is all we do.
-Ashley, Lead Advocate, St. Anne’s Place