Solutions University Coach: Amy

Solutions University Coach’s Role: My role as a Solutions Coach is working with residents once they have transitioned into their own apartment. It entails helping keep them on track, which involves guiding them through the issues of life, such as employment, recovery, financial planning etc.

Solutions University Resident: Jenny

Jenny is on Day 670 of the Solutions University.

Jenny’s Snap shot background: Jenny came to Solutions University with her 2 preteen children. She had been living at her mother’s house for some time after losing her job and her apartment. She had an unwavering desire to get back on her feet and provide for her children.

Jenny and I were sitting in case management talking about her future housing because her 2 years in our program was rapidly approaching when the news came through that a 3 bedroom house was available with a rent subsidy provided by Solutions. So Jenny would be able to afford a 3 bedroom house on her own. To put it mildly, Jenny was excited. She was so thankful and wanted to immediately run and tell her kids. What really got me was the next week I had case management with her. We were talking about her getting the house and she said “I am just so grateful my kids will each get their own room, that’s never been possible before.” Having your own bedroom is something a lot of people take for granted. But a lot of our clients, like Jenny, have never had their own room or ever been able to give their kids their own room. This kind of situation is the heart of what we do here at Solutions. Helping people get to a place in their lives’ where they are exceeding any expectations they ever had for themselves based on all their hard work and commitment. Now, because of Jenny’s commitment to this program both her teenage kids can finally have their own bedrooms in their own house.

Email this page

CLICK ON THE FINDING OUR WAY HOME LOGO TO SEE WHO IN THE COMMUNITY IS FINDING THEIR WAY HOME!

Before coming to Solutions for Change my family and I were going through a hardship. I was unemployed and my husband was collecting unemployment. Our bills started to overwhelm us. I looked for work for four months and nothing would happen. I would get an interview here and there, but no job. My husband’s unemployment started to run out. We needed help fast. As reality began to set in that we were going to be homeless I felt like I let my family down. I cried every time I thought of my son sleeping in a shelter.

The first day we came to Solutions I had my doubts; I had a lot of doubts. One of them was how soon can we get out of here and get back on our feet? At the time, I felt the program was not for us. Then we talked to some of the staff and they were very nice to us and understanding about our situation. I still had my doubts. After they did an intake with us, they took us over to the Intake and Access Center and showed us around. At that point I knew it was not for us. But what were we going to do? We had no place to go and no place to sleep. We did not want to sleep on family member’s floors. Then they had us do this thing called property maintenance. I did it and it kept my mind in a good place. Most people did not like it, but I was OK with it. We were also required to see a case manager to help us accomplish our goal of recovering from homelessness. After a couple of days I was OK with it and my son thought he was at camp. The more we met with our case manager the more I was able to see the task at hand. After 14 days we had our own apartment at Solutions for Change. It wasn’t until that night when I put my son to bed in his room and I laid down in my own bed that I was grateful to Solutions.

Since then I have started to work and to go to school. I attend 12 step meetings, but I am still getting used to that. My family is doing well. With all my doubts I had coming into Solutions the more I see it is good for my family. Solutions gave us another chance to be able to live without the fear of where we are going to go and what we are going to do. Life is going good for us and I am grateful.

- Veronica

We are 51 days into our Finding Our Way Home initiative to solve family homelessness. In order for us to succeed we need you to believe and see that we can solve family homelessness! We have done it for over 500 families and over the next 1,000 days we are going to do it for another 200 families. We are going to lead 400 Children out of homelessness and change their lives for today, tomorrow and forever! Take these first three steps and you can help find our way home:

1. Follow Us on Twitter: Follow our tweets and share them to the rest of the twitteruniverse!

2. Join Us On Facebook: Become a fan of our facebook fan page and introduce all your friends to our cause by suggesting that they become fans too!

3. Watch our Video and Share: Not everyone is on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Send out an email to your family, closest friends and colleagues and introduce them to the Solutions University.

I was homeless for several years before entering Solutions. I was homeless for a variety of reasons, but mainly due to addiction. I couldn’t maintain employment or a stable residence. I went back and forth from staying with friends to staying at motels. I felt I could no longer continue living in that vicious cycle so I sought help and entered treatment. During my stay in treatment I was able to discover who I was, but after treatment was over I still had the big issue of being homeless and separated from my children. Someone told me about Solutions and I applied. Upon entering the program I had a daughter who was in a group home and a son who was out of state staying with family. Solutions for Change helped us reunite. The Intake and Access Center helped me see my situation for what it truly was; I was homeless. I met with a case manager who helped me set some goals for my family and I and provided me with resources that were desperately needed.

I was shown how to be a better mother and friend and how to be a positive role model in my community. I no longer depend on public assistance and I am employed full time. I recently graduated from the program and now have permanent affordable housing. Solutions for Change didn’t give me a hand out they gave me a hand up. My life is so much brighter today. I have been blessed beyond imagination and it is thanks to the Solutions program.

- Teena

Email this page

Twice a month we will be giving you a look behind the scenes of the Solutions University through the “Coach’s Corner”. Our Leaders of Change will be blogging to give you a taste of the work that is done, the journeys that are taken and the lives that are changed through their day-to-day work in the Solutions University. We hope you enjoy.

Solutions University Coach: Robert

Solutions University Coach’s Role: As a Solutions Coach who works with residents at IAC, I have the opportunity to witness a clients growth from the initial intake screening through the time they transition into an SFC apartment.

Solutions University Resident: Angelina

Angelina is on Day 212 of the Solutions University.

Angelina’s Snap shot background: Angelina came into Solutions for Change after leaving an abusive relationship. At that time she needed to care for three children and her mother and brother’s houses were too crowded to take them in permanently. Angelina is a very assertive and goal oriented individual who decided that she was ready for change.

From the Coach:

I’ve had the opportunity to work with Angelina from the day she entered Solutions for Change. It has been my pleasure to watch a determined individual such as herself work through the Intake and Access Center and earn a transitional housing apartment. Not only have I witnessed Angelina open up to other residents and grow as a person; she is also making strides as a mother and professional.

Angelina had two clear goals upon entering the Solutions University; to regain custody of her daughter, Alejandra, and to earn a GED to further her career opportunities. Angelina just returned from her second court hearing with custody of her 4-year-old daughter, which she had not been in contact with since birth. So far her daughter has successfully assimilated into the Solutions community and is currently enrolled in a daycare, that is helping Alejandra learn English and prepare for kindergarten. While her daughter Alejandra is beginning her education, Angelina will be furthering hers; she will have completed the GED curriculum in July and has already started a full time job.

- Robert