A day In The Life of a Shade Tree Resident

We offer a 'hand up' not a 'hand out'

(The following is a fictionalized journal entry based upon a typical day at The Shade Tree)

July x, 2005

The police were kind. They told me how to find The Shade Tree and said that I would be safe here.
This is my 8th day at The Shade Tree.

I don't like being here but I had nowhere else to go. When my husband got sick we didn't have enough insurance and we kept getting more and more behind in our bills. I was heartsick when we couldn't pay our rent and were asked to leave our apartment. The manager kept all of our things including my clothes. I am in shock about losing everything.

My husband is still in the hospital and I don't know how long he is going to be there. I'm grateful that The Shade Tree is here for me but I do wish that things were different. The children have helped as much as they are able and they have their own children to take care of now. I just wish they didn't live so far away. I could go stay with them but I really feel that I need to stay here so I can be close to my husband.

We get up a little before 6 A.M. every day. We have breakfast and then everyone does a chore. Today I cleaned the North bathroom on the third floor. Yesterday I mopped the floors in the community room. I don't mind helping and I like it that the shelter is so clean.

After I finished my chore I met with one of the two women who work here as Job Development Specialists. They have been very good to me. They teach the Job Development Classes and also help us find places where we can apply for jobs. Today they had checked the papers and the Internet and had two good leads for me. They gave me bus tokens and loaned me a really nice outfit to wear. I took special pains to do my hair and make-up. It was really hot on the bus; I hope I didn't look too flushed on the interviews. I hope and pray one of the places I applied will call me...

I got back home (it seems strange to call The Shade Tree 'home') right around lunch- time. The food here is pretty good; today we had baked ham, macaroni and cheese, string beans and rolls. One day last week we had a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The Hard Rock Cafe donates nice box lunches every Tuesday. When it comes to the food we're really pretty lucky.

After lunch I volunteered to help clean up. I took out a huge load of trash and relined the trashcans for the first floor. I like to feel useful.

By the time I was finished cleaning they were announcing that Job Development Classes were starting. Today we have a two-part class about interviewing for jobs. The first part is about how to answer interview questions and about what to wear for the interview. (the nice thing is that when I finish these two classes I will be allowed to keep the suit they loaned to me today). I'm looking forward to the practice interview part of the class tonight. (I really hope I did things right this morning).

After class I met with my Case Manager. She helped me fill out two sets of papers to apply for low-income housing. (I really need a place to bring my husband when he gets out of the hospital) Tomorrow she wants me to go to Social Security and apply for benefits for my husband and I will also go to the Veteran's Administration and see if he is eligible for some help from them. Yesterday I went to Social Services and was relieved to know that they will help with some of the hospital bills. The case managers here at the shelter are really good about knowing where to go to get help.

For dinner we go over to St Vincent's Dining Hall. It was sort of nice. Some kids from a scout troop were there and helped serve the food. I saw one of the other ladies from The Shade Tree helping to serve the meal too. She volunteers there every day and says it's her way of "giving back". I'd like to get to know her a little better.

After dinner the people who didn't do a morning chore are assigned an evening chore. Most of the women who are working during the day prefer to do their chores after dinner. It's surprising how many of the women here have jobs and go to work every day but still can't earn enough to support themselves and their children. Maybe the Job Development and computer classes will help them to get better paying jobs.

There is a support group this evening for the women who have been victims of violence. I'm glad that I've never been beaten up but am surprised at how many of the women here have had to take beatings from their husbands or boy friends. Some of the women here are even afraid to leave the shelter because they have someone who might be looking for them and might put them in danger. The Shade Tree will lend them cell phones that are already programmed to dial 911. The Shade Tree has three full time people to help the women who have suffered violence; they help them get restraining orders and do the court work and they also try to teach them that they don't have to let people beat them up. They have support groups and everyone writes up a "safety plan" to help protect themselves and their children from future violence.

We can take showers again from 5:30 to 8:30 but it's best to get in there before the teen-age girls use up all the hot water. Everyone who lives here has to be back in the shelter by 6:30 P.M. unless you are working late or have received special permission to be out later. This is really for our own protection - the streets can be pretty rough. They also have to figure out how many beds are already taken because it seems like a lot of new people come in during the night-time hours.

The family sleeping rooms have lights out at 8:00 P.M. but the singles sleeping room where I am doesn't have lights out until 10:00 P.M. It's hard to sleep with 83 other people in the same room but I am thankful that I am in a safe place and protected from the weather.

I am also thankful that the staff at The Shade Tree is so willing to help me find a job and an apartment and get my life back together. I need to be able to take care of my husband when he gets out of the hospital. I worry.