shelterworks News from the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter
Summer
2013
had something from the past that kept them from seeing themselves beyond homelessness. They were knowledgeable about their lives from their experiences. And they had the stories to prove it by sharing them. However they soon discovered that they lacked the imagination to make changes that would be meaningful and life changing in the long run. Once they realized that to imagine how they would “All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your change their circumstances, they began to work hard at imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more trying to take the necessary steps in preparing to leave important than knowledge.� -Albert Einstein shelter. It was exciting when the day arrived for them to sign I think Albert Einstein was on to something when the papers for their apartments. I was just as excited as they he made this statement. The last time we talked, a story were about moving out of shelter. A call for donations for was shared about a couple who had secured permanent these gentlemen and the family went out to the community. housing with their two children and found the power And the community responded with enthusiasm. within themselves to change their circumstance. And on Those days we spent imagining what that day would this occasion we meet again to talk about change and how look like for them had finally come full circle for them. We imagining that change can be as powerful as knowledge, laughed, hugs were exchanged and stories were told about more importantly self-empowering. those tough days when each of us probably waivered in During the month of March changes occurred with both imagining that better days was just around the corner. a family and four single men in shelter. The father was able Sometimes in the midst of crisis we forget to imagine to obtain employment within seven days of entering shelter what it would look like to have a job, a permanent place and four men moved into permanent housing. Within 14 to live for ourselves and our families and pay the bills days, the family was also able to leave shelter and move into without having to choose between utilities and food. It is their own apartment as well with their two children. Each understandable because at that very moment survival is the of these clients at times, dared to imagine themselves and main goal and objective. No doubt we have all experienced their circumstances as changing for the better. There were it at some point in our lives. Experience only varies by days when each felt doubtful about moving into a place that degree. Yet we need to be reminded that to imagine is to they could call their own. For one gentleman, change felt move beyond the immediate struggle and dare to imagine unattainable, for another it felt as if he had spent so much a better life where we can work, put food on the table, take time being homeless that his belief in himself started to care of ourselves and family in a place that we can come waiver and his emotions were beginning to get the best of home to at night knowing that we imagined a better life him. Another stayed occupied with attending meetings to and made it so. Our imagination counts when it comes to address his substance abuse and surrounded himself with living and making lasting changes. - Martha a safety net prior to leaving shelter. Each of these men
Martha’s
Willis Dady Emergency Shelter Board of Directors Janet Slimak, President David Fisher, Vice President Bobette Ash, Secretary
James Locke, Treasurer Eric Jacobs Theresa Ann Trimble Tim Wilson, Executive Director Gabe Erickson Rebecca Jacobs Jason Vestweber Kay Henry Sam Jones Robin Wagner