By Viola Crowley
The first time I became homeless I was 21 with two babies. I stayed at the Salvation Army in San Bernardino, California. It was not a good situation and we were treated quite badly. I became homeless several more times over the next twenty years due to mental health, financial hardships and domestic violence. I’ve been homeless in seven states, in several shelters in each state. Never have I been treated with true respect, dignity and compassion.
I left an apartment in Seattle in 2018 due to domestic violence. This led to me bouncing from friends and family to shelters, back and forth between Idaho and Oregon for three years when I landed at Interfaith Sanctuary for the second time. The first time was in 2020 for three months. Then when my friend’s landlord said I couldn’t stay there any longer, I decided to come back to Interfaith because of how well I was treated the first time. I came to Interfaith the first time because of how well my daughter was treated ten years ago.
My second time here, I came in June and in late August I considered the program just to be inside in the winter. You see I was going to my daughter’s house during the day and it was getting to be too much. I originally thought that there was only the recovery program and when I found out there was Project Wellbeing for mental health, I thought, “Sign me up! This is totally what I need!”
I’ve struggled with my mental health my whole life and have been in and out of the hospitals (including State Hospital North) from 2000 – 2009. After my final suicide attempt in 2008 (I succeeded but they revived me) I made a pledge to myself that I will talk about my mental health to professionals and always take my meds and I’ve been stable now since 2022. While in the program I became manic which led to psychosis. With help and support of the shelter, the program and the programmers, I was able to stay at the shelter and not go to the hospital. Interfaith Sanctuary literally saved my life. If I had to go through that on the streets or at any other shelter I would have tried to kill myself, but I’m so grateful to Interfaith Sanctuary for saving my life. This is the only shelter I have ever stayed at that truly treated me with dignity, respect and compassion. With that, I stayed in the program for a little over a year.
Summer of 2022 I came up on the list for the permanent supportive housing voucher. I searched all summer for a place and I was ready to throw in the towel when my case manager texted me to tell me about an opening to apply for. I was doubtful but applied anyway. I only had a little over a week until my voucher expired and I lost it. Well, the property manager said they would accept me if I could pay off my due amount owed to pay a landlord and CATCH came through for me and paid that off. I signed my lease on the last day of my voucher.
After I moved in, I kept coming back to groups for the connection and support. I did this for two years and then Nicki offered me a part time job working as her assistant. A few months later and now I’m full time! I will forever be grateful to this amazing shelter and staff for all they have done for me! Thank you Interfaith Sanctuary!