A FAMILY’S STORY – BEYOND HOMELESS

ANAWIM

Heather and Matt were referred to Anawim Housing’s Permanent Supportive Housing program in 2018. Heather was pregnant and they were homeless and staying at the shelter and in motels when Anawim met with them to secure their housing. Only twelve hours after moving into their apartment, Heather went into labor and gave birth to a healthy son, Matty.Leaving homelessness is not easy and is full of challenges. Frequently, mental illness and substance use disorders add to the struggle. Addressing those challenges while living without a permanent home is nearly impossible. Before Anawim Housing or their son Matty, Heather and Matt lived without a home for many years. They lived in a tent, and their substance use and mental illness went untreated.

Heather and Matt met while living homeless and in active addiction. They distanced themselves from loved ones. Panhandling becomes a basic and necessary survival skill. Heather described eating only one meal a day. “Before we went to the shelter, we spent three months of my pregnancy panhandling to get a room at a motel every night because it was during winter and the polar vortex where it was 20-30 degrees below,” Heather shared.

When Heather found out she was pregnant, she checked herself into a hospital detox facility. Both she and Matt made the decision to get sober together. Today they celebrate 4 years of sobriety. “We're both so done with it. It's the past, and now this is reality and we have a family,” says Matt

With the continued support of their Anawim Housing program manager, Ashlea, they’ve received help accessing the supportive services their family needs, and have gained a trusted friend and ally. Heather has reestablished a relationship with her mom who is also close by and a big help with their son, Matty. The couple contributes 30% of their income toward rent and utilities and take the necessary steps to remain healthy. The importance of having stable, secure, safe housing means Matt and Heather can focus on putting their family and their health first. “If we didn't have the support from Anawim Housing, we'd still be on the streets, and we might have lost our son to foster care,” Heather shares.

Today, they can focus on what’s most important – their family. Happy to have a place to call their own, Matt shares, “We've never had a dishwasher at a place before and we're so excited about it. This is home. We love it and Matty loves it.”

This giving season you can help families and individuals like Matt and Heather by supporting Anawim Housing. Give the life-changing gift of home – safe, permanent, and supportive housing for families and individuals moving into Anawim Housing from homelessness. Make your secure online donation at www.anawimhousing.org To learn more about Anawim Housing, contact Mary Mendenhall-Core mcore@anawimhousing.org or 515-809-1156