Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9501030082
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The three years she stayed put were the high point of her life, she said, and the month she spent living at the City Rescue Mission this winter made her more determined than ever to have a stable home.
"I had plenty of time to think about my goals," she said. "I learned a valuable lesson."
Chantelle (not her real name) and her family are regulars at Roanoke Area Ministries. Relatives have worked there as volunteers and employees; they also have received assistance from time to time.
Chantelle's problems are not the result of laziness or ignorance. She is bright, articulate and determined. She usually holds down a job and is a student at Virginia Western Community College, where she maintains a B average. She is studying medical transcription and hopes to transfer to Norfolk State soon.
During her stay at her last apartment, she managed to accumulate enough possessions to make life comfortable, and she thought she had it made. But it seemed that every time Chantelle managed to get on her feet, something happened to trip her up.
Last winter, Chantelle's mother got sick and lost her job and her apartment. Chantelle had to take in her mother and her younger brother.
Eventually, Chantelle quit her job to take care of her mother, and lost more money when both of her brothers got into trouble with the law and she had to post bond.
"Everything started hitting us at once," Chantelle said.
The family kept hoping to avoid eviction. They were determined not to move back to the housing projects where they had lived before. But while they were looking around for solutions, the final notice came. There was not even time to put their possessions in storage or to sell them. Chantelle was forced to give away all of the things for which she had worked so hard.
Her biggest concern, she said, was to keep her children out of the homeless shelters. She didn't want them to go through what she had, so she split the family up, sending the children to live with friends.
By November, Chantelle had found a new job and an apartment and was on her way to starting her life over again. Through the Good Neighbors Fund, RAM's Emergency Assistance program provided her with money for a deposit on the apartment and bus passes to get to her job.
"I appreciate it very much," she said.
Checks should be made payable to Good Neighbors Fund and mailed to Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 1951, Roanoke 24008.
by CNB