Binet* came to the US legally from Gambia in 2013. She couch-surfed until she was literally thrown out onto the streets with her infant son.
It was at that low point that she found The Family Shelter and was welcomed as a resident. It was at the Shelter where she and her son established a stable base and routine for several months. She also embraced the available connections to services that are vital to moving beyond homelessness.
During her stay at the shelter, she attended all the Housing Hope’s College of Hope classes that were offered and never missed her weekly case management meeting.
Binet also enrolled in a property management program at Everett Community College. Upon graduation, she was offered a job, moved into an apartment, and now works as a property manager helping homeless families.
“Setting goals with my case manager was very helpful,” she says.
One of her recent goals was to buy a car and learn to drive, as she was taking three different buses to get her child to day care and then to work. In June of this year she bought that car and taught herself to drive. Last month she drove to The Family Shelter to volunteer.
“I really want to give back, the Interfaith Family Shelter has given me so much,” she said.
She recently came to a house meeting and talked with residents about being kind to each other and about how important it is to set goals and reach for the stars.
Congratulations and thank you to Binet for her focus, persistence and hard work. You inspire us all!
*Names are changed to protect privacy. Interfaith Association of NW Washington features the stories of former residents of The Family Shelter with their permission.