January 2025 Newsletter

Download a PDF to read the full newsletter. Or read our featured article below.

Rescuing Mothers & Children

Michelle and her boyfriend both worked at the same fast-food place. They rented a motel room on a monthly basis. She took needed time off work when expecting their baby, Dyllan, now 18 months old. Reduced income, close quarters, and addiction caused stress. She suffered the domestic violence of screaming, arguing, physical violence, and throwing her phone so she could not call for help.

Michelle fled for safety. Roseburg Police referred her to the Domestic Violence Hotline, who referred her to the Department of Human Services, who referred her to our Samaritan Inn. Before calling here, she was concerned about a possible waiting list and having to be in a dormitory with other families. Michelle was thankful that there was no wait, and she had a private room with her baby.

There are several assistance programs available that Michelle was able to utilize.

Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS) helps families experiencing domestic violence with moving costs and items to stay safe. She received a one-time grant of $1,200 to leave abuse and protect herself. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides a monthly cash benefit to families with children who meet income limits. She receives $432 per month for herself and one child.

Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Assistance (WIC) is a supplemental nutrition program for low-income women and their babies. She receives $25 per month on an electronic benefit transfer card.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is to help pay for groceries. It used to be known as food stamps. She receives $532 per month for herself and one child.

Early Head Start is a learning and care program for newborns through age 2. It does not offer a busing service to get children to the centers. There is a waiting list and referrals are helpful. Hours of service are 7:30am to 1 :45pm. Michelle and Dyllan were referred by WIC.

Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) helps families who are working, in school, or receiving TANF to find, keep, and pay for childcare. It has to be a State certified care facility with an opening available. There is a family income limit and a monthly copayment. She has been on a childcare waiting list for over a year, and can expect to wait for 18 months or longer.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides subsidized housing for low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. She applied for that program through Housing Authority of Douglas County (HADCO). She is on a waiting list that averages 25 months to receive a housing voucher. TANF is not considered income for housing, only a small copayment is required for no income families.

Domestic violence is a common reason for needing emergency shelter beds at our Samaritan Inn, and a lack of childcare is the reason for extended stays here. Michelle is a victim, yet an overcomer. She used the city bus to take Dyllan to Early Head Start. She went to Worksource and got a job as a housekeeper. The timing of her employment and childcare worked for a couple of months. She hired a new friend to pick Dyllan up after childcare and babysit him, while Michelle continued to work to satisfy her employer. She gave the babysitter $100 for two weeks of care. He was only picked up one day. When Michelle had to leave work early the next day to pick Dyllan up herself, she was fired.

When her name reaches the top of the HUD housing voucher list, they will be able to move from Samaritan Inn. When her monthly TANF grant expires after a five-year lifetime benefit, she will need an income for living expenses. Then she will pay 30% of her employment income for housing. Still, the sooner she can find a job that will work with her childcare needs, the better off they will be. If her name reaches the top of the ERDC childcare list while still at Samaritan Inn, she will have more employment and housing options even before receiving the housing voucher.

They will not timeout of Samaritan Inn as long as they do everything they can to become independent.