When Aileen Sims came to the Housing Crisis Center and entered our Home AgainTransitional Housing Program for homeless persons, she had lost custody of her 3 children because of a long history of substance abuse. Her children, ages 10, 12, & 15, were living with their grandparents because Aileen was in a drug treatment program and their father was incarcerated.
At intake, Aileen’s primary goals were to maintain sobriety, turn her life around and most importantly, regain custody of her children. Through a partnership between HCC and Texas Rehabilitation Commission and Aileen’s determination, she was able to obtain stable employment. By working diligently with Kris, her Home Again case manager, Aileen stayed dedicated to her recovery, saved money and as hoped for, regained custody of her children.
Over 24 months while living in housing provided and paid for by HCC, Aileen managed to accomplish her goals in spite of some major difficulties encountered along the way. Among these were the death of her father, her mother’s serious illness and a difficult and painful custody case. Since "graduating" from Home Again, Aileen has stayed in contact with us. She has been sober and stable for five years now. In fact, Aileen now owns the home where she lives with her children. She has been overheard saying, "My prayers were answered when I walked through the doors at Housing Crisis Center. It was a tough haul, but they believed I could do it when I didn't - they helped me believe."
INCREASING SELF-SUFFICIENCY: Meet Angela
Angela was referred to the Housing Crisis Center by Nexus Recovery Center, a substance-abuse treatment facility. At the time of her enrollment into our Home Again Transitional Housing Program, Angela was 47 years old and had two children, ages 17 and 8.Angela had been unemployed for ten years. During that time, Angela became addicted to drugs and, as a result, lost many of the social skills that would help her find gainful employment.
With the assistance of her caseworker, Angela identified specific problems that led to her addiction and homelessness, and listed several goals to increase and maintain her self-sufficiency. She was advised and agreed that she would have to maintain stable employment in order to stay in the program. In addition to the housing provided by HCC, Angela needed and received a lot of one-on-one support to improve her self-esteem. She soon began a certified nurses aid training program (CNA) offered through the Texas Rehabilitation Commission.She completed all of her course work and maintained good grades. Upon graduation from the nursing program, Angela found full-time employment and began paying part of her rent.She also opened a savings account to help pay for her daughter’s college education.
Angela has "graduated" from the Home AgainProgram but maintains regular contact with her former caseworker.She is still gainfully employed at a nursing facility closer to her apartment.Angela is paying all of her rent and utilities and has even purchased a reliable automobile.Her daughter is enrolled in a local college and maintains stellar grades.Angela’s self-sufficiency is vastly improved from the time of her intake at HCC, and so is her self -esteem.She is now able to resolve the crises that come up in her life; mainly because she knows she can.
Before he walked through the doors of the Housing Crisis Cener, Richard had been homeless for fifteen years. For the previous six years, he had lived in a van parked in a church parking lot.
Homelessness was not Richard's only problem. He was also a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic; he also had difficulties accessing the complex Social Security system to secure monthy benefits.
A current agency volunteer of HCC learned of his situation and brought him to our offices to meet with the program director of Home Power Social Services and learn how to properly fill out the paperwork to begin receiving SSI benefits. As soon as the notification came back that Richard would begin receiving Social Security benefits, we began the process of putting him into housing.
Because Richard had no rental history, various misdemeanor charges (for sleeping in abandoned buildings and other public places), and an income of $600 per month, finding a landlord initially proved difficult. Ms. Atkinson found a landlord who was "willing to take a chance"on Richard. HCC agreed to pay the first month's rent and the landlord agreed to waive the security deposit.
In addition to his SSI, he has found a part-time job to supplement his income. Richard's landlord allowed Richard to paint his unit a bright color of his own choice and plant rose bushes to beautify the property. This was quickly becoming his home!
As of June 2007, Richard has lived in his apartment for six months. He has paid each month's rent in full and on time. Richard also attends the weekly peer counseling sessions to keep in contact with his HCC counselor and other friends he has made.
Terry Ann's Story
Tarry Ann is 28 years old and a single mother to two small children. They were referred to the Housing Crisis Center from another shelter who provides temporary housing for spouses of domestic violence. During her brief marriage, Terry Ann's husband showed a pattern of rage, anger, emotion and physical abuse, and violence, all fueled by rampant drug abuse.
Terry Ann had also recently learned that she was expecting her third child. While she hoped that the addition to their family would encourage her husband to clean up his life, her wishes never came true. The anger and violence only continued.
Not only was Terry Ann putting herself in danger, she was also putting her three children in the same position.
After much prayer and consultation with friends, Terry Ann made the difficult but courageous decision to leave her husband and end the cycle of violence that had plagued her for many years.
After staying at the shelter for a few weeks, Terry Ann needed more space and privacy for her children. She was referred to the Short Term Transitional Housing at the Vienna Apartments and at intake, received her own two bedroom apartment for 3 months at no rent.
At the time Terry Ann entered the transitional housing program at HCC, she was six months pregnant and without a job. Although she had training in the medical field, she had difficulty finding a job.
After meeting with her caseworker and making a service plan, Terry Ann began compiling a resume and job searching. After many arduous interviews, Terry Ann was offered a position in her field of training. The new job also allowed time off to take care of her newborn and children.
While in residence at Veinna Apartments, Terry Ann was able to save over $3,000. After she exited the program, Terry Ann and her family were able purchase a house and used that money as a down payment.
For the first time, Terry Ann and her three children are living in safe, affordable, and permanent housing.
