Homeless families talk of challenges

Editor's note - The names of the people quoted in this story have been changed to protect their anonymity.

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life editor

Karen has never been a burden on anyone. Through a series of circumstances, however, she has found herself homeless, wondering how she is going to provide for her five children. With tears flowing, she talks openly about how Family Promise Mat-Su is helping turn her life around.

"I know I am a burden right now, and that I have five little burdens, but they aren't burdens to me, they are my kids," Karen said as she wiped away tears Tuesday night at the Family Promise day center. "If it wasn't for Karen [McKelvey] and Colette [Michaelson], the state would probably have taken my kids.

"We didn't know this was going to happen to us," Karen said. "I've never had to rely on people for anything, but now I have to. They have kept my family together."

Karen, her fiancée and her five children have been a part of Family Promise (See related story, this page.) for two weeks, and she said the organization has helped get her kids enrolled in school again, and is helping her and her fiancée look for work and housing.

"They are the backbone for us right now," she said. "They are providing the safety and stability we need to get back on our feet."

Karen said more than anything, having the support of others has been a big relief as she and her family work through a tough situation.

"It's a big relief not to have to worry about the cold, and how seven of us are going to sleep in a crewcab, in the Nissan," she said.

Karen said her children are old enough to understand the family's situation.

"They ask why we don't have a place to live or a car, and I tell them that we're trying to get those things," she said.

Tina has two children under the age of 5, and she's been at Family Promise for about two months now. Before coming there, her and her children were living at a campground, out of a tent.

She said her youngest son didn't have a pair of shoes, because his shoes melted in a campfire. Now, however, her life is starting to turn around, thanks to the help of Family Promise, she said.

"Karen and Colette have been a major support for me," Tina said. "They've helped me find a good counselor and a good psychologist. I've got one kid in HeadStart and the other in day care so I can work on what I have to get housing."

Tina said her biggest challenge in getting her life back to order is battling depression.

"My biggest goal is to be happy and healthy," she said. "I hope to finally get my depression under control to the point that I can have a job, so I can get an apartment. It's tough and frustrating, but they keep me on track here.

Housing is a huge challenge for homeless residents of the Valley. With limited options available, as well as soaring costs, many homeless people have a hard time finding affordable housing opportunities, Michaelson said. For Tina, that's been of the biggest challenges she has faced.

"I'm No. 112 on the Alaska Housing waiting list, and that's even after Colette sent them a letter saying I'm homeless," Tina said. "I've been No. 3 on a waiting list in Palmer for three months already. The two biggest problems are affordability, and location."

Karen said being able to have all of the resources, including packets of housing information, in one place - the Family Promise day center - has made things a lot easier for her.

Both Tina and Karen said they would be facing even tougher times if not for Family Promise.

"They've helped us with every thing we've needed help with," Karen said. "It's been overwhelming to me."

Karen's fiancée said he is impressed with how caring the community has been. A native of Wisconsin, he said nothing comes close to the hospitality of Alaskans.

"There are so many more services here, and more of a 'home' feeling," said Gary. "People say 'Hi' to you in the grocery store. They don't do that back in Milwaukee.

"I love it here. We're homeless, but I love it here."