A few years ago, Stacey was a full-time, stay-at-home mom in an unhealthy living situation. “When you’re in a situation, sometimes you don’t realize how bad it really is,” Stacey said. “You just have to know when to say, ‘Enough is enough.’”
Stacey knew that it was time for her and her children to leave. Luckily, a friend offered their seasonal short-term rental as a place for Stacey and her children to stay while they got back on their feet.
Just as her rental stay was ending, Stacey’s husband filed for divorce. But she needed more time to find permanent housing for her and her kids. Unsure what to do, Stacey even had a conversation with her two kids about possibly living in their Honda Pilot.
“We didn’t have anywhere to go, but I thought ‘We can’t go back, we’ve got to keep moving forward,’” Stacey said. Her immediate concern was finding a safe place for her and her children. And just in time, she found Cross Roads House.
“The best part about being at Cross Roads House was having a warm safe place. Coming from the situation we had been in, there was a lot of fear, and I just felt so safe here. That safety piece was so important.”
Even though families typically stay in shelters longer than individuals, things moved very quickly for Stacey at Cross Roads House. She was adamant about leaving the shelter within two months, and was motivated to do whatever it took for her and her kids.
Stacey knew that she wouldn’t be able to fix her whole life while at the shelter but acknowledges that Cross Roads House gave her the tools she needed to take the first steps.
Cross Roads House supported her efforts with:
- Counseling for her and her kids
- Case management services
- Work-ready seminars
- Resume assistance
- Referrals to community services
As soon as she arrived at Cross Roads House, Stacey worked closely with her case manager to find a job, apply for housing, set up counseling, and find after-school programs for her kids.
“My case manager, Angel, was great. I don’t think I could have done it without her. When I felt like I was going to falter, she held the vision for me, and I thought, ‘I know they believe in me, I’m going to keep going.’”
Soon after arriving at Cross Roads House, Stacey was offered a job and was approved to move into a new apartment. While she was grateful for her time at Cross Roads House, Stacey couldn’t wait to leave. In her new home, the kids have their own bedrooms and they all have the comfort and stability of living in a permanent home.
“I keep reminding my kids, ‘Don’t ever forget what it was like to be here,’” she said.
Knowing what it’s like to be homeless, Stacey is eager to give back to Cross Roads House. She collects items for the shelter so she can help the community that supported her when she needed it the most.
“There’s no other place like it around here,” Stacey said.
Watch Stacey’s Story Here
Two-thirds of Cross Roads House’s funding comes from private contributions. Community donations are always needed to help us support people like Stacey.
Any support you can provide will make a tremendous impact in the lives of the people we serve, as they work to get back on their feet and into permanent, sustainable housing.