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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.
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