Help Our Community Flourish

Survivor, Not a Victim: an Emergency Shelter Story

Sara (pseudonym) is a young mom with a 1-year-old who came to the SSPADS Emergency Shelter program for help after her relationship became abusive. Sara didn’t feel safe and could not stay in her current living situation with her daughter’s father. Sara was very motivated to change her circumstances and make progress toward getting her own apartment, especially to protect her daughter.

A SSPADS shelter case manager referred Sara to sign up for low-cost childcare assistance so her daughter would be cared for when Sara found work. Sara began applying for positions at dozens of employers and, before long, she found full-time work.Since she had already applied for and been approved, it was a swift transition to get her child into day care. Sara received diapers, hygiene products, and clothing items from SSPADS to get her started on her journey to stability.

Sara regularly reaches out whenever she needs help. Her case manager recently provided support and information about domestic violence services when Sara decided she wanted to pursue an order of protection against her abuser. Sara has made enormous strides toward regaining housing while in shelter and is mature and driven beyond her years. She is currently saving for a car and a security deposit for her first apartment.

Under the Bridge: a Housing Story

Delores Range, one of our amazing employees who is the Supportive Housing Manager, worked closely with a client Damien (pseudonym) for months to get him into housing. She first met Damien when he was sleeping under a bridge with his buddies. She tried to offer him help, but he insisted he didn’t deserve to be helped. He felt she couldn’t or wouldn’t help someone like him.

But Delores wouldn’t give up.

Delores met Damien several times and built up her trust with him and his friends. She came back to the bridge again and again to outreach Damien and his buddies. Each time, she offered them help, housing, advocacy, and connection to any other support they might need.

Eventually, Damien and his friends noticed that Delores was persistent and became interested in the services at SSPADS. They trusted Delores and the other staff enough to ask for more information, give out their information, and sign up for services.

As a result of Delores’s hard work, Damien no longer lives under a bridge. He was first housed in one of SSPADS Rapid Rehousing Programs and then moved to one of our Permanent Supportive Housing programs. He has seriously increased his income, self-worth, and confidence as a result of working with SSPADS staff.