We wanted to update you on a family that many of you have come to know and love. The Pongyan family was featured in the Sacramento Bee's Book of Dreams this winter. With seven children under the age of 12 and a strong desire to succeed, Leona and Justice stuck in the minds of many readers.

The Pongyans moved in to their own apartment on December 21st with the help of Lutheran Social Services and Homeless Prevention/Rapid Re-housing funding. They had a beautiful Christmas celebration with all seven children, one that will make everlasting memories. One thing was missing, though; living room furniture on which the whole family could sit and enjoy a Christmas movie or listen to music. Upon hearing this, a new supporter of the Agency, Mrs. Slavensky, made a donation to specifically fulfill this dream. Mom, Leona, said she was so moved by the donation that she began to cry when called with the news.

SAEHC's Devon Good had the opportunity to take Justus and Leona to purchase the items they needed to complete their apartment. CORT furniture in Sacramento graciously consulted with the family on their needs, including a sofa, loveseat, lamps, and three twin beds for the children. On January 26th, with all nine family members boiling over with excitement, their beautiful furniture was delivered.

Mather Community Campus client Diedra Norman was awarded $300 from Soroptimist International Club of Rancho Cordova. Their Women's Opportunity awards assist women in overcoming personal difficulties and bettering their lives through educational and skills training. Club award recipients such as Diedra also become eligible to receive region-level awards to offset any cost associated with their efforts to attain higher education, including: books, child care and transportation. Diedra is currently working on completing her Early Childhood Education hours and units to work in a pre-school setting. She has three daughters and has made a remarkable effort in changing her life and providing her daughters with a healthy, loving and safe home.

In November 2008, after just one year clean and sober, Pam was homeless. She had just begun the opportunity to have overnight visits with her 8-year old son Samuel, who was in foster care but had no where to turn. Thankfully, her CPS worker recommended the CPS Home Finding Program at SAEHC. Pam stayed in the Group Home with five other families for 5 months, thus enabling her son to return from foster care. She speaks highly of the staff, especially Pat Dearing, the Lead Support Staff. “She did more for me than my own sponsor. She made time for me and my family. She listened to us and gave us positive feedback when we needed it. Pat was a counselor, a mentor, a housing specialist and a friend”. Pam is now living in Saybrook, a one year program that leads to an opportunity for affordable permanent housing. She feels blessed to have had the opportunity to enter the Home Finding Program and now looks forward to her future with her son.

You could say Lucky Dozier’s luck turned around when he and his family came to the Mather Community Campus (MCC) program in 2003. Up to that point, the then 11-year-old, his siblings, and his drug-addicted mother bounced from shelter to shelter. “I didn’t want people to know where I lived because I was so embarrassed,” Lucky explained. “But at Mather I felt some stability for the first time. We weren’t all crammed into one room.”

In addition to more secure living conditions, he was also grateful for the programs that helped his mother get off drugs and develop better parenting skills. “I saw a big change in her and in myself,” he stated. Clint Bunting, MCC Youth Development Specialist, was the first to see the huge potential that existed in Lucky. Clint was able to connect Lucky with volunteer Spencer Walker, who made a huge difference in Lucky’s life. Walker, a father of two, said Lucky became his “third son.” He introduced him to basketball and Lucky showed promise in the sport, as well as football. Walker described how he “wanted to show him what a real family is like and to turn the negatives in his life into positives.” There were expectations also, “he had to promise me that he would be successful and go to college.”

Lucky did not disappoint. Following a year at the MCC program he went on to play basketball and football at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento. He played sports all four years while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Recently Lucky, who turned 18 in January, received a full academic scholarship to Grambling University in Louisiana. Grambling is regarded as one of the top African American Universities in the country.

“I don’t regret the past. Everything happens for a reason. Thanks to the Mather program I have a future,” Lucky boasted. He wants to major in business and marketing; and perhaps he will follow in Spencer White’s footsteps and make a difference in another young boy’s life.

Leann Landrith has a job few women have. She is a train conductor, taking passengers along Amtrak’s San Francisco to Gilroy line. But that’s not the only thing that makes her special. It is what it took for her to get to this point in her life. A little more than two years ago this 44-year-old mother of four was struggling with drug and alcohol addiction as well as an abusive relationship.

“My life was getting staler and staler all the time and instead of using any energy I had to make the right choices, I used it to make all of the wrong choices,” Leann said. “At the time it seemed so much easier to use drugs to numb the pain.” In 2006 she lost everything, including her two youngest children who were still living at home. The twin girls were taken by Child Protective Services and Leann was forced to move in with her parents.

While living at home Leann entered a treatment program and got her children back. In April of 2007 she moved to Mather Community Campus, a two-year employment focused transitional housing program for the homeless. According to Leann, MCC helped her and her children in so many ways. “We learned to pull together and become a family again.” The program taught her basic life skills, including positive parenting and healthy eating. “The classes were awesome in the way they taught us appropriate discipline techniques,” Leann said.

She and her now 8-year-old daughters were also pleased with the MCC living arrangement. She said the two-bedroom, furnished apartment was bigger than any place she had lived in before. “The program even gives you dishes and food to get you started.” Leann added that her daughters thrived under the MCC children’s programs. She took full advantage of the job counseling services and talked extensively with fellow residents about training and potential career paths. That’s how she decided to enter a program to become a train conductor. She was so motivated that she completed the 18-unit course in just a semester and graduated near the top of her class.

Today Leann and her family rent a house in San Jose close to family who can help out with daycare duties. Leann is on-call so her work hours can be erratic. But she loves her job and knows that she would not be toodling down the tracks if it were not for the SAEHC and the Mather Community Campus program.

On the evening of September 13, 2007, 20-year-old Enrique Parez was riding home on his bicycle from his job at a local grocery store. When he stopped at an ATM to deposit his paycheck two people approached him and attempted to rob him. Enrique dropped his bike and ran, but he was shot in the back; eventually collapsing into a ditch and later dying in the hospital. The suspects threatened his mother, Marylou, sending the 39-year-old woman into a tailspin and back into a life she thought she had left behind.

“I just totally freaked out and became paranoid. I was already in shock over my son’s death,” exclaimed Marylou. “I started to use drugs again when someone offered them to me to make me feel better. I lost my job at the State and things went from bad to worse.”

To escape the threats, the mother of three other children (two of them toddlers) and her fiancé had to stay with friends until they found out about Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center’s Family Shelter Program. The shelter provides short-term emergency housing and supportive services to 13 families with children in a 55-bed facility for up to 60 days. Marylou and her family have a private room, but go to a common area for three meals a day. While Marylou was reluctant to live in a shelter, she soon learned SAEHC offered so much more than a roof over her family’s head.

“There are requirements, like working with a case manager, participating in alcohol and drug treatment programs as well as looking for work and permanent housing” described Marylou. She believes the program gives her the structure she needs to stay on a positive track. Thanks to SAEHC Marylou is once again working for the state and expects that she and her family will have their own place to live soon.

“I can’t say enough good things about the staff here. This is way more than a job to them. They care about their clients. They were encouraging me when I didn’t even believe in myself” said Marylou.

There is a motto on one of the shelter’s walls, “Gratitude is my attitude.” Marylou Parez says this guides her life today.

Less than three years ago, Holly was a pregnant, homeless addict with minimal education and several outstanding warrants for her arrest. To change her life, Holly took full advantage of every resource available. She sought county-funded residential treatment for her addiction and utilized CPS services to re-unite with her newborn child. But Holly attributes her success to Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center’s Mather Community Campus.

Mather Community Campus (MCC) is a two-year employment focused transitional housing program for the homeless. To Holly, and other clients, MCC represents a chance at a new beginning. Every family shares three common goals: to have a job, a savings account, and a more permanent living situation when their two years are over. This translates into every resident, on differing schedules, working on similar tasks. Often this involves cleaning up credit reports, getting a drivers license, job training, education, seeking employment, and apartment hunting. The first several months at MCC are set aside for personal growth with classes focusing on basic finances, parenting, relapse prevention, interpersonal communication, mental health, and peer support groups. MCC incorporates career counseling into the program, encouraging its residents to pursue a certificate at Lemon Hill adult school before entering the work force. This offers MCC residents the opportunity to be trained, employed and ready to move by the time their two years are complete.

Holly chose to pursue her educational goals and decided to start with an Associate’s degree from Sacramento City College. After receiving her degree in Social Sciences, Holly stayed in school, transferring to CSU Sacramento, and received her Bachelor’s degree in 2008. Holly is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work. For the last year she has been employed with a small nonprofit in Oak Park, which provides a number of services to sex workers in the Oak Park area. She is one of six peer support/ outreach workers. Most recently, she has begun an internship at Sacramento Area Emergency Housing, where she hopes to assist other families as they battle issues similar to her own.

Our Children Matter Highlight: David

David has been living at the Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center’s Mather Community Campus (MCC) site since February 2006. During David's stay at MCC he has had tremendous personal success as well as academic and athletic. He is currently in the 6th grade attending middle school. This fall, David played Pee Wee football and was a contributor to the team’s undefeated record throughout the entire season (14-0). On December 1, 2007, his team won the Pee Wee Super Bowl, defeating the other team 35-0. During the game David played both defensive back and wide receiver. Commended should also be given for his great commitment to the team and for not missing a practice during the entire six-month long season. He also excels in school and is a leader around campus. David lives with his mother and three sisters. Soon his family will be moving because they have successfully completed the MCC program. David is expected to do great things in his future, he has unlimited ability and potential to achieve all his dreams and goals.

The Brown Family

Six years ago, William Brown and his four young children lost their home and were living in their car after William’s wife abandoned the family. William was determined to provide a better life for his children, so he turned to Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center’s Family Shelter for help. The Brown family was provided with more than a place to sleep, for 60 days they were given three meals a day, all toiletries, diapers and other essential items. A Case Manager and Housing Specialist helped the family access services and provided them with job and landlord referrals. In addition, classes were offered on budgeting, finances, anger management, parenting, relapse prevention and self-esteem. On-site educational and recreational programs were provided for the children including tutoring, a computer lab, and crafts.

Recently, William stopped by to see staff at the Family Shelter and update them on his progress. When the Brown family left us in 2002, they had a second start at life and moved into a home of their own. The family soon formed Children of God, Inc., a gospel group that includes Mr. Brown, his son Leerteese, 16, and daughters Sabrina, 14, Brenda, 12, and Valerie, 8. Many of the songs the family sings are written by Sabrina, who wrote her first song, Jesus Taught Me How to Love, at 10 years old. She is the group’s lead singer and was the homecoming queen for the Grant Chargers youth football team. The family is happy now, the children are in school and are on the path to success.

William said that he can’t imagine where he and his children would be today if they had been turned away from SAEHC due to a lack of funding, overcrowding, or a change in the policy that accepts fathers with children.

Diane Maher

My name is Diane Maher. I first came to Women’s Refuge on January 12, 2006. I was escaping from an abusive husband and I didn’t know where to go. Someone referred me to Women’s Refuge. I called and got in that same day. I was scared and broken. I was also an addict but I lied and said I was clean and sober.

I got a job and moved over to the ESP program and within a month I did a total tail spin. I went out one night (March 9, 2006) and I took a valium and got drunk and wrecked my jeep. I got arrested with a DUI and the next day I was asked to leave the ESP program, which I did with my tail between my legs. My family and friends did an intervention with me and I agreed to go into recovery. I did 7 days in detox and 30 days at a safe house, while waiting for a bed in recovery. I stayed clean and sober until I went into recovery. I did 52 days in recovery.

I had let Tahirih (the Supervisor at Women’s Refuge and ESP) know where I was and what I was doing. When I got out of recovery, I went right into the Women’s Refuge. I was so embraced with so much love and support. They saw that I had changed. Tahirih did everything possible to get me in Mather Community Campus. I did my share of hard work because she had let me go back over to ESP with a very strict contract that I had to follow to a tee. I could not have any free time, attend all classes, a meeting daily, and meditation regularly. I did it all every week.

I moved into Mather on September 13, 2006. I’m glad that there were people besides my family that still believe in me. I wouldn’t be here without Tahirih and the great staff at Women’s Refuge. I love them all. Thank you.

“Women’s Refuge Staff,
I love and miss you all. I’m doing great here. I love it and I will succeed.
Love,
Diane Maher
Thanks for all your support!”

Note: Because SAEHC offers such a variety of programs, sometimes we see clients through the initial shelter phase and the transitional housing phase. Diane came into SAEHC at our Women’s Refuge program for single, homeless women. She transitioned to our Extended Shelter Program where six women who have completed shelter stays can live in a house together for up to 4 months, while looking for something more permanent. Diane found a more permanence at Mather Community Campus (MCC), the two-year, employment-focused transitional housing program run by several agencies including SAEHC. Clients leave MCC with stable jobs and the ability to rent or even purchase their own home. Diane’s story is representative of SAEHC’s mission to not only help women and families with children in times of crisis, but to work with them and assist them towards stability and self-reliance.

Tyler-Burke Family

Hello my name is Carol. I reside at Mather Community Campus, Family Side. I live with my son, Tyler, who is 12, and my husband Tim. In August 2003, my husband and I had finally hit bottom. We were addicts and out of control. We lost our kids, our jobs, our house and finally our selves. We ended up on the streets of Sacramento and eventually at Loaves and Fishes.

Then we went to Salvation Army. We were told for us to get clean and sober then other things will come. I still remember being confused and hating myself for losing my children, so much I didn’t want to live. While living at Salvation Army I started attending bible study. My head was getting clearer my heart was getting filled and my spirit was being fed. All I really know is this, without a doubt, God saved me. I got clean and sober September 8, 2003. CPS had told me in August my children didn’t want to live with me. I changed my life after that. I was now very active in helping others at Salvation Army and was meeting all the requirements for family reunification. I applied for housing at several places and remembered thinking I want my family together. On November 20, 2003, I went on my Mather tour. During this time I was encouraged to keep a journal and this is what I had to say on that day. “Very nice place and looks like a nice place to fix me.” Little did I know just how much? In February 2004, I moved into Mather on the single side. I was excited and scared. I never lived alone before. My children in CPS and my husband in recovery, I was on my own.

My case manager revealed a plan to start to fix me. By June 16 2004, my son came home and I was moved to Mather family side. What I can say today is that without everyone’s help I wouldn’t be where I am today and because I had so much help my case with CPS was closed. I graduated drug court. I went to classes at Mather that changed my outlook on life like Anger management, Life skills, Interpersonal communications, Parenting and Parenting lab, and classes that helped with job readiness. When Tyler came home he was like many of the children who have gone through the system. He was angry and confused and had no self esteem; his grades were D’s and F’s. SAEHC Children’s Services helped Tyler where I couldn’t. Children's Services is much more than just babysitters. My child was given a youth case manager. They met weekly and he rebelled at first. After a while he came around and responded. Tyler now spends a lot of time with his case manager and several others. Tyler has completed all of his classes here such as Life skills and he just completed a ten week course called Youth Outreach Group. Additionally, Tyler was involved in volunteer work and job readiness, which included work in the community, making their resumes and being interviewed. This was good for my son. Tyler now has all A’s on his report card except for P.E. and that’s a B. Children services have helped my son with his self esteem so much.

I know without all that we’ve learned we couldn’t be as ready as we are. I will miss everyone. Special thanks to our case managers, our Directors, Administration and Children’s Services and support staff and all our friends at Mather Community Campus.

Thank you very much!