Shayla, a single mother of three, grew up in turbulent households without a stable foundation or strong support. Her family had come into contact with the criminal justice system, and she encountered abuse at the hands of the people who were closest to her. Shayla transitioned between foster care and the homes of different family members until the end of high school. When Shayla was 18, she gave birth to her first child, Brookelynn. A few years later while she was pregnant with her second child, Braylen, her family encountered their first experience with homelessness as they checked into the Our House Shelter. Shayla’s family moved between different shelters, and being unsheltered, until she had her third child, Crystal. At this time, Shayla came into the Our House CAFSI program, a homelessness prevention program aimed towards helping families maintain financial and emotional stability over the course of two years.
Throughout the birth of her three children, Shayla struggled with postpartum depression and unaddressed anxiety from her childhood that kept her from keeping consistent housing and work. When she began working with her Our House case manager, Shayla was able to be connected to mental health services and acquire the foundational skills she needed to get her family stable. Shayla attended parenting classes and a women’s support group on campus and completed a CNA program. With the support of her case manager, Shayla found reliable childcare, a stable job, and an apartment for her family where they have remained for over a year now.
Shayla has now officially graduated from the CAFSI program, and she has big goals for her family. She has plans for returning to school, working in a hospital one day, and owning her own house that her kids can call home as the grow up. Shayla has transitioned from a young woman being held back by life’s challenges into a strong mother and fierce protector of her children ready to lead them through whatever life throws their way.
Our House hosted its annual Home for the Holidays event yesterday, December 6, 2019 at the Albert Pike Masonic Center from 6:30-9:30 pm. This event includes a live and silent auction, heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and the announcement of this year’s Resilient Family of the Year. The “Resilient Family of the Year” award seeks to honor Our House clients that best exemplify the hard work, wise decision-making, and active participation in the community that Our House sees as keys to success in overcoming homelessness.
At Home for the Holidays, Our House honored Shayla Porch and her three children, Brookelyn (6), Braylen (2), and Crystal (1), as the 2019 Resilient Family of the Year awardee. The honor includes an award of over $15,000 provided by Arvest and the Arkansas 529 Plan. This money will go into a 529 plan for Ms. Porch’s three children to use for scholarships in their future. Shayla has been involved in almost every program that Our House has to offer and are a thriving example of hard work!
