THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 16, 1996 TAG: 9601160262
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
For Brenda Creekmore, walking through the doors of the homeless shelter on West 37th street Monday was like taking a key and unlocking a part of her past.
Creekmore, 41, lived in the The Dwelling Place with her son 10 years ago.
``I didn't have anywhere to go,'' Creekmore said, tears welling in her eyes. ``I had been living from place to place. I didn't have a job, and I had a sixth-grade education. I had no way to make ends meet.''
Today, Creekmore is one of the shelter's successes.
She has a home of her own. Her son, now 20, is in college. She has earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and is working on a master's in Urban Counseling.
Creekmore was one of the Norfolk shelter's former residents who shared their stories on Monday in celebration of The Dwelling Place's 10th anniversary.
``I was at rock bottom when I came here,'' Creekmore recalled.
``They helped me and gave me food, helped me get food stamps, helped me find a job and helped me fix up my raggedy car. These people cared for me. They listened.''
More than 40 South Hampton Roads residents attended the shelter's birthday celebration, including Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim and former mayor, Joe Leafe.
Trish Manthey, executive director of the shelter, said the celebration was held on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday to help highlight the late civil right's activist's message of hope and opportunity: two principles that the shelter stresses.
``Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of vision,'' Manthey said. ``His message of having a dream is important to the shelter, because even those who are desperate and who are without hope can have a dream.''
The day was also marked by the announcement of a large donation to the shelter.
Ecumenical Family Shelter, Inc., the owners of The Dwelling Place, announced that the nonprofit private organization had been given the Norway Apartments in Norfolk.
Located on Granby Street in Norfolk, rent from the 24 apartments will be used initially to help provide financial support for the shelter.
``We were very impressed with the program,'' said David Russotto, president of O & R Development Company, which donated the building. ``We thought they were doing a fine job and wanted to help them expand.''
The apartments, which he said were worth more than $350,000, will eventually be turned into transition housing for families served by The Dwelling Place.
The shelter, utilizes two buildings on the streetand houses up to 14 families at a time. Families may stay at The Dwelling Place up to 60 days. During this period they receive counseling and help in finding jobs as well as permanent housing.
Since opening, The Dwelling Place has assisted about 2,125 families. Roughly 175 lived in the shelter last year.
Former Norfolk Mayor Joe Leafe, reminisced about the center's slow beginning.
``I remember standing outside, when this shelter came into being,'' Leafe said. ``It took a lot of hard work and a lot of determination. This place has come a long way.'' ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN
The Virginian-Pilot
The Dwelling Place, more than a shelter for homeless people,
celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday. Shalinda Washington, 11, on
the stairs, and her mother Aileen, right, have been living at the
home about a week.
by CNB