Sandra's ShelterCare Story

Visiting with Sandra in her cozy apartment in ShelterCare’s Hawthorn program, it is difficult to believe the hardships and challenges that the past 35 years have brought her. Sandra’s positive energy and boisterous sense of humor infallibly lift the spirits of those around her. Her creative talent expresses itself in the beautifully intricate cross-stitched towels and tablecloths that surround her. “Sometimes I stay up until midnight working on
projects”, Sandra says. She throws her head back
and laughs. “And watching Jerry Springer.”

Shelter & Support

Thirty-five years ago, in 1970, Sandra and her five-month-old son arrived on the doorstep of ShelterCare’s first homeless shelter, which was later the set of the movie Animal House. Sandra lived there for over a year, keeping busy by helping with office work, cooking, and cleaning. Sandra fondly remembers spending time with a close friend after their children had gone to sleep, talking into the night, drinking RC cola and munching on Doritos.

At this time Sandra began a long journey with mental illness. In the late 1980s, after living for many years in an abusive marriage and giving birth to another son and a daughter, Sandra arrived at ShelterCare’s Family Housing program. The staff provided her and her children with support, a roof over their heads, and assistance in obtaining social security benefits. In the years following, Sandra received support from ShelterCare’s Royal Avenue program several times when she was experiencing a mental health crisis. With the help of the staff at White Bird, in 1998 Sandra began attending ShelterCare’s Safe Haven day program for homeless adults with mental illness. Just a few months later she finally got her own studio apartment at ShelterCare’s Brethren Housing (a long-term housing and support service).

A Place to Call Home

Sandra lived at Brethren for the next three years. With the support of the ShelterCare staff, Sandra started to realize her life was worth living. In 2001 Sandra graduated to ShelterCare’s Hawthorn Apartments, a more independent housing program, where she has lived ever since with her cat Tapanga. Sandra loves living at Hawthorn. “It has everything I need”, she says—an apartment of her own close to the bus stop and the laundry room and the opportunity to go out for coffee with her favorite staff person, Ursula, at their weekly support meeting. The staff at Hawthorn have truly changed her life, she says.

Living Independently & Successfully

Today, whenever she is not cross-stitching or putting together elaborate puzzles, Sandra enjoys helping staff with office work and visiting with her son and daughter. She plans to begin teaching others how to sew. She proudly announces that she quit smoking three years ago and feels much healthier. Sandra is grateful to the ShelterCare staff for helping her through the crises in her life. “Staff have helped me through all kinds of stuff,” Sandra says. “They’ve been there for me whenever I’ve needed them.” Thanks to the support of five of ShelterCare’s programs since its creation 35 years ago, today Sandra is happy, stable, and enjoying life.