“I got focused. He became my priority, and doing better for us became my priority.” That’s how Michelle Smiley describes her conviction to build a better life for herself and her son after years of homelessness and addiction. She was living on the street while pregnant, but after Brice’son was born she knew she had to find housing for herself and her baby. She initially moved into a housing situation with Brice’son’s father that, while safer than living on the street, was not safe enough. So she reached out to Our House. When she first called, our housing programs were full, which is not uncommon given that more than 90 families with children apply to live here every month. But she didn’t let that stop her. She started attending our Career Center daily to get help finding a job–and to be on site if a room became available. She enrolled Brice’son in our Bright Beginnings early childhood center, so he could get good care while she looked for a job. After several weeks, she was able to get beds in our shelter for herself and Brice’son. Michelle soon got a job and started saving money. But then Brice’son developed a health issue, and had to be in the NICU at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for the better part of three months. This scary time caused her to lose her job she had worked so hard to get. But she didn’t lose her determination–and she didn’t lose her housing.
“The shelter was so good to us. They called to check on Brice’son. His teachers called to check on him too.” When Brice’son was ready to come back home, their beds were waiting for them. And we were able to coordinate Brice’son’s ongoing care needs with help from our on-site ACH clinic, which Michelle and Brice’son visited at least weekly for the next several months.
Michelle started over with her job search, and found a job working the front desk at a hotel. Michelle and Brice’son were able to move into our family house, so they had their own room. She saved even more money, and, after about nine months in our housing program, they were able to move out into their own place. Michelle reflects on the meaning of having her own home: “It’s nice. It’s mine. I haven’t had anything that was mine in ten years or more. It feels good to be able to go to work, pick up my son from school, go home, cook.” Michelle has since gotten another, higher paying job in the hotel industry, and she is currently taking classes that will prepare her to apply for a promotion to a management position. Brice’son still attends Bright Beginnings, and his health has been strong, and he recently took his first steps!
Michelle also recently started volunteering at the homeless outreach ministry of Mosaic Church, the church that helped her when she was living on the street. “Volunteering keeps me grounded. I love the people, I love to get to socialize with them, and let them see someone who made it, see that there’s something on the other side, that we don’t have to stay stuck where we are.”