Before coming to St. Stephen Housing, Jacob and Lanee had been homeless for about a year. They had been renting a run down apartment in Lakewood in a high crime area that wasn’t safe for their two young daughters, Jamiah and J’onna, to play outside alone. “They couldn’t even go outside to play, not to [...]
The last time I tried to leave the father of my kids, he tried to kill me in front of my children. He beat me up because I didn’t make him something to eat fast enough. That’s when I knew I had to get away for good. I woke up the next morning trying to [...]
Have you ever asked yourself what it could be like to be homeless? In my job as a case manager, I have had the opportunity to systematically ask families what it is like to be homeless. Being homeless is destabilizing, demoralizing and depressing. You have lost your base, a foundation from which to function. [...]
"The stereotype of homeless people is that of using drugs or alcohol, or having a criminal record or something worse. But none of that was our circumstance. I never expected to be homeless, but when my husband had an accident at work, our lives changed completely. He lost all use of his right arm, [...]
Sofia came to SSHA as a single mother with three children, escaping domestic violence. She fled her abuser with her children, taking no possessions. She and the children lived on the street for a period, resorting to theft for food. Her English skills were limited and she lived in fear that her abuser would locate her. When she [...]
"I’m forever grateful to SSHA for helping my family at at our lowest point. During the one year of temporary housing time we had lots of goals we had to write and reach. I’m proud to say that because of SSHA I have reached most of those goals. I am now a student in [...]
