August 2018 Newsletter

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Keep Us Anonymous

Indeed, Jane (not her real name) and her child will remain unidentified. When first approached, she refused an interview for our newsletter out of fear that a domestic violence abuser would find where they live. With a second request concealing their faces, she agreed. O how many stories have gone untold for the same concern!

We make the location of Samaritan Inn well known so that it is easy for women and for mothers and children to find at anytime they need a safe place. It has a perimeter fence and a gate that is locked from the outside at night. A buzzer and intercom at the gate calls the duty supervisor’s cell phone for entry after curfew.

Anonymous stories have to be somewhat generic, as the detail could reveal too much. Jane worked, even two jobs at times. She contributed to her extended family unit. Emotions ran high with issues including cancer, chemotherapy, lying, stealing, jealousy, greed, drugs in the household, and physical abuse. The final episode put her in the hospital, and left her with post-traumatic stress disorder. She fled for her and her child’s safety to a family member’s house. As is common, through such turmoil, her child acted out, compounding the problem and their new living arrangement. They couch surfed, bouncing between family and friends. Her Department of Human Services caseworker recommended our Samaritan Inn. Jane said, “When someone mentioned a shelter, all I could imagine was a gym room full of beds. When I came here, I cried like a baby.” She was so happy to see the living arrangements and the freedoms. Jane and her child have their own private bedroom here. In our mother and childrens’ pods there are shared living rooms but private restrooms and showers. She said, “The food here is good. Staff are easy to talk to. You can talk about the past, and they are not judgmental.”

Jane got an almost full-time job, and put her child in school. They have been on waiting lists for housing for eight months. They got anxious to have their own place, so they moved into a motel. They stayed there two months, being tormented between their independence on the one hand, and what she described as excessive rent, noise, drugs, prostitution, mold, insects, and stealing by motel staff with room keys. Oops, we moved too early! Back to Samaritan Inn they came to wait for their place on the housing lists. “Samaritan Inn is so clean and quiet. It does not have all the noise of neighbors getting into trouble,” she complimented.

Here she said, “I am learning Biblical truths, forgiveness. I have been battling that for a while. I would have to say, I forgive (my abuser) from afar. I cannot hold that against (that person). I am learning to be a stronger person. I think that is why God has led me to this place. We all stumble and fall, and we are all learning. Anybody that is needing help needs someone to talk to. Don’t be afraid.” For now, Jane and her child are safe and waiting for independent housing.