Sharie and her two young daughters carried their belongings in one small book bag. For six months, the three had been sleeping on couches and floors in the homes of family and friends. They had no change of clothes, no toiletries. Nothing.

While searching for permanent housing, Sharie and her girls came to our Crisis Shelter. The motel-style room at the Shelter was a welcome sight. Not only did they get comfortable beds to sleep in, but they also received new clothes, towels and toiletries. The girls were overwhelmed.

Diamond and Chevelle had reunited with their mother when she got out of jail. Having gotten clean, Sharie didn’t want to return to her heroin-addicted husband. With nowhere else to go, no money, no job possibilities, two dependent children and no high school diploma, she faced a difficult road.

Our Shelter is a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence, struggling through recovery or suffering sudden loss. The Shelter is a temporary option while women work, with the aid of staff, to find long-term solutions. While these women get back on their feet, they know they have a home and a safe place for their children.

Sharie and her daughters still have a long way to go, but they are thankful for the refuge they have today.