The Voices Project

The Long Road to Housing

Hi! My name is Carla. I'm 20 years old and Class of 2006 high school graduate. I'm taking computer classes at Crittenton Women's Union Woman to Woman Program. I'm graduating on April 12, 2007. I'm a mother of a 23-month old daughter who will be 2 in April. I'm currently living in a Family Shelter housing over 60 mothers and children in Boston.

I'm writing to you today because I have a concern on Housing in Boston.

My concern that I have today is that the Government and Welfare is not giving us the right fair chance of finding an apartment when you want to stay in Boston and you have only lived and have family in Boston. The way that I see it is, if you make less money for your annual year of being on welfare (I only make $1,404 with my child and me), it is more difficult to get a market-rate two-bedroom apartment in Boston because their dollar requirements are higher. I have been homeless since May 2006 and I have noticed that although I have lived and been in shelter, there are people who have not been there longer than me but have left in less than five months. I have no CORI issues nor any other government issues at all either. For those living where we are, we have different reasons on why we are there today but mainly it is that we have no place to go or other reasons.

I'm new at this but this is my statement to you: how could you help my child and me feel more comfortable in knowing why we can't find housing that fits us?

- Carla

Waiting for Housing

My name is Jill and I'm 27 years old. My 9 year old Daughter and I are homeless. We moved into a family shelter in July 2006. Not because of domestic violence or natural disaster but simply because I could no longer afford market rent no matter how hard I tried.

For me getting into a shelter was not the hard part, having to share a room with my 9 year old developing daughter was. My daughter is doing well now because she has started playing in a basketball league at the a local YMCA and will also be starting summer camp this July.

This was not the case two months ago. Due to the stress of living in one room I unfortunately had to put her in therapy. I try to tell myself that it is going to be OK but when I see how hard my daughter is taking us being homeless, I know for sure that it's not okay!

It's a big change for her to go from living with her mother and father in our own place, where she had her own room, to moving into a place that houses over 6o families, and having to share a room. In the last 8 months she has been sick 6 times and we have had to take many trips to the emergency room where they tell me she has caught a virus.

My daughter was diagnosed with ADD and received a warning that she may be kept back this year. She is now receiving lots of help from the school in math and reading. This will hopefully assist her in moving on to the next grade. Between her living situation and struggling with school my daughter is beginning to show signs of depression and social issues. Her social issues come from not being able to have friends over because we live in a shelter. How do you tell your daughter who wants to have a sleepover no!!!

As for myself, in November 2006 I made a life change and enrolled in Bryman Institute in the Medical Assistant training program. I am a hard working mother with goals in desperate need of a place to live.

Again, the date we moved into the shelter was July 2006. Today's date is March 28, 2007 and I am still homeless due to affordable housing not being available. I have done my part to try and obtain housing. I do everything in my power to improve my situation. I have filled out 85 applications but I am still homeless. I finally got an interview in the Worcester area; mind you I have lived in the Boston area all my life. My appointment was on March 8 and to date I am still homeless. I don't mind living in Worcester if it is available to me but why should I have to relocate my daughter to a community she is unfamiliar with. If there was more funding for MRVP, I would have a choice in where I would like to raise my daughter.

When I make follow up calls to housing departments I'm told there is an expected 5-10 year wait on the lists. Why? I can not begin to imagine waiting that long however I would have to work 3 jobs in order to pay market rent. Right now my only solution would be to get a housing subsidy like MRVP. Unfortunately it is under funded which makes it very hard to get one. Again, I say to you I have done all I can, and played by the rules. Isn't 8 months long enough to be homeless? Will you please help me with my situation and other people who are in similar situations by supporting funding for MRVP?

My First Visit to the State House

Monday, March 26, 2007 - Monday was my first time going to the State House. It was so exciting for me. I was so proud to be a part of it. When we got there, I felt like I was Somebody. I saw all of those pictures of the first flags and the people who fought for us to be where we are now. We also saw pictures of those governors who made Massachusetts what it is now. It was marvelous to see the halls for open meetings, the House of Representatives, and the Senate rooms. I thought to myself that these were marvelous places. The excitement was when we met the Governor Deval Patrick. He is a man of God. He took his time to talk with us and it went to the bottom of my heart. We need people like him around the country.

- Monique, Woman to Woman Participant

A Remarkable Spring Day

Monday, March 26 - This day was a remarkable day for me, one that I will never forget. My name is Nerissa, along with other women like my self who are a part of the Women to Women program we went to the State House for a field trip. It was very exciting. I brought back memories of my being there years ago when my daughter presented a paper on the Boston Tea Party. That was a great experience.

I am an immigrant from Jamaica with a different Political background and experience. In my Country you never have access to your leaders in office I believe that politicians should not be untouchable.

The experience I had as we walk down the hallway was to see our Governor in Person I was moved and excited because it was so unexpected to see him in person, I fact he gently embraced us by shaking our hands, We took picture with him. It was so remarkable. In respond the Lord led me to speak words of encouragement to him to him with no fear.

I said that the Christian community is praying for him and that he is not by him self. We are holding up in prayer, I would like to personal say to Governor Patrick the words and instruction God gave to Joshua go forward and possess the land.

Look neither to the right or to the left and be of good courage.

I hope when you read this letter you will feel what it really feels like to hold the hands of Your Governor and to speak to him in person.

- Nerissa, Woman to Woman participant

Woman to Woman State House Visit

An exciting time was had by women of CWU's Woman to Woman program as they toured the State House on March 26. At the end, everyone had a chance to talk to Governor Patrick who accepted questions and words of encouragement, shaking every woman’s hand (nearly 20 of us), and graciously posing for photos.

Click on the picture to view the photo gallery, and visit "Personal Journeys" to read more about this experience.

Welcome!

As a leading organization in Massachusetts dedicated to transforming the lives of low-income women, the Crittenton Women’s Union wishes to guide social change so that all women of the Commonwealth can discover opportunity and prosperity. We understand that in order to meet this goal, we must foster a conversation on this issue that is compelling, innovative, and provocative.

The purpose of the Crittenton Women’s Union Weblog is to allow direct communication between low-income women, policy makers, educators, researchers, and supporters on the issue of economic self-sufficiency. We know that the diversity of voices surrounding this issue is a valuable resource that must be tapped if we are to find powerful and effective public policy solutions.

We currently feature four categories:

Personal Journeys: The journey to economic self-sufficiency is sensitive and complex. In this area, you will find women’s stories that are invaluable to the conversation and central to changing public policy and opinions in Massachusetts.

The Political Arena: In this category, you can make democracy work for you by directly connecting with your public policy and government leaders!

Insights: In this category, you will find thought-provoking statements, compelling research, and up-to-the-minute information on self-sufficiency from a diverse group of educators, philanthropists, researchers, and opinion leaders.

Advocacy Alerts: In this area, you can stay informed on the state of the Commonwealth by checking in with the CWU's Advocacy Department.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Kirsten Blocker, Web Content Manager
E-mail: kblocker@liveworkthrive.org