The fear of homelessness can create a surplus of mixed emotions.  Where will I go?  What do I do with my belongings?  What about my kids?

When Jane approached the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter, her pending eviction left her with few options. A single mother of six children, two of whom have long-term illnesses, Jane was forced to skip work regularly to meet their basic health needs.  The absences from work left a dent in her paycheck and she fell behind on rent and then Jane received notification from her apartment complex that if she did not pay what she owed, she would be evicted. 

Jane met with the Intake Coordinator for an initial assessment to determine how the shelter could be of assistance.  Her primary goal was to regain stability so her family could remain where they are most comfortable – in their home.  She was assigned a case manager at the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter to work together, analyzing ways to decrease expenses and develop a family budget, following up with every resource available to Jane.

Shelter House’s rental assistance program was able to prevent Jane’s eviction.  Now that her most pressing financial need is met, Jane and her case manager will continue to work together over the next year to ensure that the family can receive Shelter House services, maintain housing and ensure that Jane and her family can maintain their housing on their own.

Jane never had to enter the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter as a resident; Shelter House’s crisis intervention prevented her family from having to leave their home.  Intervention is critical in Shelter House’s vision for preventing homelessness in our community.  Caring and resourceful human service professionals at Shelter House will continue to seek long-term goals for families like Jane’s and provide community case management to keep families together and contributing to their communities.