A Cross-Country Trip to Begin Again

Theresa packed up her entire world into four small boxes, grabbed the hands of her two small children and boarded a Greyhound bus for the other side of the country.  Fleeing an abusive relationship, anxious and alone, Theresa took strength in her faith, her resolve and a patchwork of shelters and programs that would eventually lead to a new life in a Seattle home provided by The Homelessness Project. 

At 36, Theresa thought she would never leave her hometown.  But her dreams of a happy family life dissolved as her husband’s verbal attacks and mistreatment grew more threatening.  Cut off from her family and friends – like many victims of abuse – she dreaded his violent outbursts, suffering in isolation.  Finally, one night it was too much and she decided she had to leave.  “I grew up that way,” she explains, recalling the violence in her own childhood..  The Homelessness P of her two of her two  “I didn’t want my kids to live in an environment like that,” so she broke the cycle of violence and despair.

One morning after her husband left for work, she gathered up her son and daughter, some clothes and a few photographs, and headed off to a battered women’s shelter.  The shelter staff gave her a few days to go over her options.  In order to have a fresh start, Theresa knew that she needed to move as far away as possible, “where no one’s hands could reach out” to grab her.  A fan of overcast days and the movie “Sleepless in Seattle,” Theresa decided to move to the Northwest.  She believed a “geographic cure” though drastic was her best hope.  As she says, “I had nothing to lose.”

The shelter bought her a bus ticket and called ahead to make sure a bed would be waiting for her and her children when they arrived.  Every step of the way, Theresa worried about what would become of her and her children.  She called the Seattle shelter from Chicago, from Montana and from Idaho.  By the time she arrived on their doorstep, “they already knew me,” she recalls.

Although Theresa felt welcomed at the shelter, it was just a temporary solution and no place to settle with two lively toddlers.  Luckily, The Homelessness Project (THP) had an opening.  When there is space available in the program, case managers notify area shelters.  The shelters, in turn, recommend candidates likely to succeed.

THP receives anywhere from 10 to 30 recommendations per opening, using a formal screening process to select the best possible candidate.  They consider the size of the family, ages of the children, physical needs, and the applicant’s willingness to participate in counseling, set goals and comply with THP rules.

Theresa was the ideal candidate.

When a THP case manager met her, Theresa had already been busy gaining a foothold in Seattle.  She’d applied for a housing subsidy and WorkFirst.  She had sent resumes out to several employers.  Although she hadn’t yet received any job offers, she remained motivated.  “I wasn’t going to let them defeat me,” Theresa says.

Her THP case manager helped Theresa settle into the THP program and into a THP house.  Near bus routes, playgrounds, a church and daycare, the new neighborhood thrilled Theresa and her family.  “It’s a family place,” she says, pointing to the children and parents she sees outside her window.

Besides helping Theresa get comfortable, her THP case manager worked with her on her housing application, helped her obtain a new bed, locks for the door and transportation.  She also referred Theresa to all the useful resources that were available, including the Seattle Milk Fund.  Theresa says her THP case manager provided constant support.  “Before I started working, we were meeting every Monday and one of the things we did was to set goals.  I would always look forward to it.  Goal setting was fun because I knew she was going to ask me about them the next time we met.”  And Theresa almost always succeeded.

One weekend in March, Theresa saw an ad for a job at a medical center in her neighborhood.  Although she was considering an offer from another employer, she decided to find out about the clinic because it was so conveniently located.  On Monday morning she walked over to introduce herself.  They interviewed her on the spot.  The next day they offered her the position.  Now she is working less than two blocks from home, dealing with the children and families in her neighborhood.  “I love my job,” she says proudly.

Occasionally Theresa gets a call from a prospective employer who received her application many weeks ago and is interested in interviewing her.  “You can’t have me now, “ she tells them happily.  “You’re too late.”

Theresa’s rush to establish herself in Seattle underscores an urgent need for a client to regain their sense of dignity, respect and self-esteem.  Although she still faces a difficult struggle, Theresa moves forward with a sense of optimism.  She is grateful for the assistance of THP and the other agencies that have helped her make a break with the past – and a chance to build a better future for her children.

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