Fear permeated her entire body or was it stress? Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. The pain of stage four cancer and being homeless seemed to melt together. It felt paralyzing, but she knew Ashlee, her 17-year-old daughter, needed her. And, as hard as it was to admit, she needed Ashlee too; who helped motivate her to make it through another day.
Ashlee had been doing okay at school and socializing with her friends before the cancer diagnoses, but now she was struggling. She refused to leave Mom’s side, and her friends didn’t understand what it was like to carry the shame of being homeless. She finally left high school and began independent studies with Mom. Mom was her world and Ashlee was clinging to her as long as she possibly could.
They came to realize that being homeless was expensive! Most of Mom’s disability money went to getting a motel room a couple of nights a week so they could take a shower and get a good night’s sleep. But, as their bank account drained, so did their hopes of saving enough money to get into housing. Rentals were scarce and without deposit money, it seemed hopeless.
Then HART fanned the flames of hope by offering to help pay their deposit. Ashlee and Mom found a precious little house with a roommate. HART helped to furnish the house and Mom and Ashlee are now savoring their home and can take a deep breath. The cancer didn’t go away, but Mom can take better care of herself and Ashlee. They have a place to call home. They actually smile now, thanks to HART and the many people who care.
Stay tuned for the Big Day of Giving on May 2nd when you too can be a part of someone finding a place to call home.
