Food and Shelter

featured in the March 2012 newsletter

Shanna, 34, and her two children, Alex, 12, and Esther, 8, came to the Crisis Shelter in November of last year after being evicted from their apartment. Shanna had reached the 5-year limit on her Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and so the family of three had been attempting to survive on Alex’s Social Security – just under $700 per month – plus food stamps and medical assistance. They had fallen behind on their rent.

The children were in school when Shanna came home from an appointment to discover that she could not get back into their home. The property manager told her she was trespassing and had to leave. In the end, after calling the police, Shanna was allowed back in to get her son’s medication and their cat. Nothing else. They came to the Crisis Shelter with only the clothes on their backs.

For the past several weeks, Shanna, Alex and Esther have been living in one of the shelter’s rooms with another mom and her two children. They have shelter, food, clothing and time to figure things out. While at the shelter, Shanna has completed classes on finding a job, creating a resume, money management, being a responsible renter and how to parent with love and logic. She and the children are attending chapel and church services several times a week and working around the Crisis Shelter facility.

Shanna said she feels like she is being called to get her act together but also experiencing grace and acceptance. “I’m not by myself. There is Someone looking after me.”