Agency Spotlight
Sue's Story: An Update
Last year, Faith House highlighted "Sue's Story" as part of our quarterly "Participant Successes" bulletin. But Faith House is not just about changes that happen in the lives of homeless families during their stay in the program. Rather, Faith House is also about new ways of living that last long after families begin their new lives in the community. We would like to tell you "Sue's Story" again, and what has happened since she left our program.
You might remember that Sue came to Faith House after a short time in the emergency shelter followed by months of sleeping on friends' back porches and in basements. Although she was employed, constant moving and a struggle with alcoholism had made it difficult for Sue to keep the jobs she obtained. A series of violent and abusive relationships had resulted in constant contact with the police that left her physically and emotionally bruised. And her children, who had witnessed the abuse, had serious learning, behavioral, and medical problems, which further complicated the family's challenges. Sue was not so sure she could change her life when she entered Faith House. "I'll try it for a while," she said, "so at least my children can get the help they need. But I'm not so sure that I have it in me to change anymore."
Sue began to make many small changes for the better, but her heart just wasn't in it. But then Sue had an "awakening" to her true potential one day while contemplating her oldest child's college plans. "All of a sudden, I realized that he might become ashamed of me," she related, "once he went away to college on scholarship, because I was homeless and working in dead-end jobs. I suddenly wanted to beat him to college graduation, to be a good example for him, to show him-and myself-what I could do. And not just for him, but for me, too." And from that day, Sue has never looked back.
The original ending of "Sue's Story" told how she re-entered college and completed studies in counseling, which led to a good job in her chosen field; began volunteering regularly in the community; helped her children succeed in their specialized school programs; completed many other noteworthy personal goals; and moved into her own house in the community, in a decent neighborhood with a rent well within her budget and enough room for her growing children. But the story doesn't end there!
Since Sue completed the Faith House program, she has kept in touch with the staff, and she recently told us her best news yet: she is now the proud homeowner of a newly-built, four-bedroom colonial in a quiet residential neighborhood.
"If my life can change for the better, anyone's can," Sue said when she gave us the news. "I have real pride in knowing that I have what I have because of hard work and the help of people who place their faith in me. Now I am the "good example" I always hoped my kids would have. And I know we are not finished learning and growing. We have a real future." And I am sure "Sue's Story" will not end there either. Sue really does have a future, and she and her children will keep learning and growing and giving back to the community.
FAITH House
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A young man named Steven walked into the United Way offices and stated that he wanted to make a donation to United Way. He then took out his starter checks he received from the bank where he just opened his first checking account, and proceeded to write out his first check to United Way. Steven wanted his first disbursed check to monetarily support his community. What a thoughtful young man! Thanks Steven!
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