Kathy’s Journey
Life for Kathy and her family seemed to be going fine until her husband Jason needed surgery. Quickly becoming addicted to the opioids he was prescribed after the surgery, Kathy and Jason eventually lost their house, cars—everything they owned.
While Jason sought help from Oxford House where he could receive the sober, supportive environment for recovery he needed, Kathy needed a safe place for herself and children. That’s when she reached out to North Strand Housing Shelter.th Strand Housing Shelter, she is finding the stability she longs for and opportunities to learn more about how much God cares even amid life’s challenges. Here, Kathy and her children are finding the love and support they need to prepare for Jason’s return.
Although God has always been a part of their family’s life, Kathy now says, “He is the center of our family’s focus now!” Once Jason returns, they look forward to working hard to get back on their feet. Together, they are committed to creating a Godly, stable life for their family. North Strand Housing Shelter will be there to help!
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Jacobs Story
Jacob doesn’t have any good memories of his childhood. Life was hard from the beginning. As his mom and dad went in and out of jail, he never knew whether he would be in foster care or staying with his great grandmother. With no consistency, love or guidance, at fourteen years old, he too ended up in jail. Once out of jail, Jacob married, but struggled to find decent work to support his young family. That’s when he first came to North Strand Housing Shelter (NSHS) for help, where he received the support and encouragement he needed to get back on his feet.
Life took a turn for the worse again in July when his wife left him, taking their child with her. Lonely and discouraged, Jacob once again reached out to NSHS for help. Jacob is a gentle man, and the staff came to love and respect him when he first brought his family to the shelter, so they welcomed him with open arms.
NSHS helps shelter residents find job opportunities, prepare for interviews, and learn the skills that facilitate job retention, and they helped Jacob get his pre-employment health tests and bought him the clothes he needed to begin hospital training. While Jacob completes his job training to become a hospital orderly, he continues to live at North Strand Housing Shelter, where he receives all the love and encouragement he missed as a child. He says, “They really have my back!”
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Tara’s New Life
Tara never had a chance to know what healthy relationships were supposed to look like. Emotionally and mentally abused by her mother, life went from bad to worse when she watched her father murdered during a burglary of their home.
Later, after years of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather and brothers and exhausted by her mother’s cruelty and manipulation, Tara fled with no plans for where to go or how to make a living.
With no understanding of her value, Tara spent years continually making unhealthy choices in relationships, even finding herself in abusive workplace environments.
Approximately 63% of women experiencing homelessness have experienced domestic abuse and sexual violence at some point in their lives, most without the life experience to choose healthy partners. So, when Tara came to North Strand Housing Shelter with her young son, Alex, she was grateful to finally find a safe and caring environment where they could heal while learning what it feels like to be valued and supported.
NSHS staff are helping Tara find the confidence she needs to develop healthy relationships and helping her find a workplace where she can thrive and become independent, free to create a fulfilled and independent life for herself and her son.