Amy came to our Safe to Sleep emergency shelter with nothing. She had no identification, no social security card, no birth certificate, no income, no family support. She had nowhere to go. She struggled with debilitating anxiety and depression but despite her circumstances she was highly motivated to find stability and work towards permanent housing.
When our Safe to Sleep Case Management team meets with a guest in this situation, although not an uncommon story, it can feel like they are facing insurmountable goals. So we meet people where they are at. Our team has developed a process that focuses on each guest’s individual situation. Through self-directed goal setting, we walk alongside, offering guidance, resources, and encouragement. Sometimes that walk is short and sometimes the walk is long.
Amy had a long walk ahead of her. First, we purchased her Missouri ID as well as her birth certificate and helped her get her social security card. These small tasks are impossible if you do not have income. We connected her with Burrell services and ensured she had a team to support her mental health recovery. We also connected her with the Missouri Career Center and a vocational rehabilitation program so she could secure a job that was sustainable with her mental health struggles. Our Case Manager helped her apply for disability benefits and we completed housing applications.
Amy’s journey at Safe Sleep was 8 months long and she came to the shelter every single night. Patience is difficult for anyone, imagine how hard it is to be patient when your only option is a shelter each night. Thankfully, Amy was approved for a supportive housing program and will continue to work with a team to ensure long term stability.
In lots of ways, it might be easier for us to give each guest a limited number of days they can stay at Safe to Sleep, offer the basics of shelter and be done. Shelter is lifesaving for many of our guests, but we know they need more. They need hope, and hope comes through the support of our case management team. Last year we helped 29 women secure housing. Their stories are unique, but they all found hope in our process.
Hope keeps all of us moving forward. Thank you for helping us walk with women on a journey of hope toward the life they’ve dreamed of.