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Carol’s Story
Carol entered the Fellowship Housing program just over one month ago with her 17 year old daughter. Carol spent most of her adult life supporting adult family members while caring for a son with special needs. Carol had worked various part-time jobs throughout the years while balancing the demanding schedule of doctor appointments and hospital visits for her son. Carol was engaged to be married when her son passed away at the age of 16. After several attempts at making the marriage work, the couple eventually separated. Carol has spent the past several years moving from place to place, mostly in and out of the homes of relatives and friends. Carol was able to secure a well-paying full time and was temporarily living with a friend when she called Fellowship Housing. Within one month, an opening was available and Carol and her daughter were invited to join the program. At the age of 47, Carol has the opportunity for a fresh start. After a lifetime of caring for others, Carol has taken a step to care for herself. |
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Ana’s Story
Ana discovered Fellowship Housing when she signed up with a local church group to take part in a serving project. Ana spent the day painting a Fellowship Housing apartment and learned about the program. Ana and her 11 year old daughter had been sharing a one bedroom apartment with relatives and had recently learned that their family members would be returning to Mexico and needed to be out of her apartment in less than a week. Ana quickly submitted an application to Fellowship Housing and came in for an interview. Within two days, a local church provided the funds for Ana’s first month’s rent and security deposit and she was accepted into the program. On the day she moved in Ana told our staff, “Today is my daughter’s birthday. Not only do we have a place to live, but for the first time in her life my daughter will have her own room!” Ana will graduate from the Fellowship Housing program this fall and just received word that she was selected by Habitat for Humanity to receive her own home! |
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Natalie’s Story
Natalie grew up on the north side of Chicago in a physically and verbally abusive home. By the age of 16, Natalie was pregnant with her second child and was emancipated by the state. She attended trade school, received her GED and worked full time while caring for her two young sons. Just over ten years later, Natalie’s daughter was born. When Natalie was laid off from a job she had maintained for years, she was forced to move in with family members. She re-located to the suburbs with relatives after her sons were robbed at gunpoint. Natalie was accepted into the program just days before our spring graduation. As she heard the stories of Fellowship Housing graduates, Natalie began to cry as she realized what could be possible for her in the next two years. In the past five months, Natalie has worked on living on a strict budget and has begun to set goals with her case manager that she hopes to achieve in the next two years. |
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Celica’s Story
When Celica first contacted Fellowship Housing, she was living with her mother and stepfather in a very tumultuous home environment. She had recently discovered that their home was soon entering foreclosure, leaving Celica and her two teenage boys without a place to live. When she first entered the program, Celica had no experience keeping a budget. Within months of meeting with her case manager, Celica excelled in budgeting skills and now keeps an extremely detailed budget each month. Even in the midst of several health issues throughout her time in the program, Celica has continued to put forth the hard work the Fellowship Housing program requires. She has also significantly reduced her debt and has just attended an initial meeting to apply for Habitat for Humanity. Celica will graduate from the program in November 2009 and hopes to either receive a home through Habitat or purchase her own home. |
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Courtney’s Story
When Courtney contacted Fellowship Housing, she was living with her infant son in a retirement community with her father. Space was extremely tight, leaving Courtney unable to retain residential custody of her other two sons following a difficult divorce. Courtney sent her two school aged boys to live with their father out of state while she attempted to obtain housing. In her initial meetings with Fellowship Housing staff, she remained upbeat and hopeful in spite of the crushing reality that she was separated from two of her children. Since joining the program in December 2008, Courtney has grown tremendously in confidence and has developed very specific goals for independence. She has negotiated and paid off a significant amount of debt within months of joining the program and is always looking for resources to help other single moms in the program. |
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Monica’s Story
Monica’s story begins the way most women hope for on their wedding day. She was married for 16 years and had three little girls. While things weren’t perfect and the couple struggled financially, Monica could never have anticipated what was to come. Monica’s husband came from a family of alcoholics and had never used alcohol for fear that he would follow the pattern of his family members. However, he began drinking one day and his life spiraled down into addiction and mental illness, eventually leading him to residential treatment after an intentional overdose. Shocked and alone, Monica was forced to quickly move in with her parents and transport all of her belongings into storage. Shortly after, Monica lost her job and later all of her belongings when she could no longer afford to pay the bill for her storage unit. During her interview process with Fellowship Housing, Monica was encouraged to take a position at an events catering company. She had been a waitress her entire adult life and had never considered the possibility of advancing her career. Since entering Fellowship Housing nearly six months ago, Monica has received a promotion to assistant national sales manager with a benefits and salary package worth over $50,000! Fellowship Housing has offered Monica a community of support and stability as she transitions into the new role of single mom. |
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