Cynthia is settled in
After years on the streets, Cynthia is stable in her northeast Minneapolis apartment

Cynthia loves living in northeast Minneapolis. The public library is halfway down the block and she goes to work right around the corner. The bus stops outside her door and takes her to wherever she wants to go. Her one-bedroom apartment is a perfect size for her and her cat Mr. Paw-Paw.

It took Cynthia a while to get settled. Originally from San Diego, many of her years in Minnesota have been spent on the streets.
“I never slept under a bridge, but I do remember sleeping on a porch of an abandoned house in south Minneapolis and hiding my stuff in the bushes. Once I woke up and everything was gone; it had been stolen. It was bad, but I didn’t have it as bad as some.”

A year ago, Cynthia was connected to Mary Gallini and Simpson Housing Services’ Single Adult Rental Assistance Program (SARAP). This highly successful program works with adults who have experienced long-term homelessness (an average of 11 years) and works at placing and keeping them in stable housing.

Since the program began over two years ago, 100% of the participants have been placed into permanent housing and 84% have maintained it. Of the participants, 82% have maintained or increased their income level.

Cynthia is an energetic, animated woman, but she grows somber when she talks about how vulnerable women are on the streets. “There are predators out there who prey on homeless women. I’m so thankful that I found the Simpson Women’s Shelter. It was a place to sleep, to call home, but it was also a place to put my things during the day.”

Though she is stable and secure, Cynthia can’t help but worry about her friends who are still out on the streets; friends like the woman who gave her the heart-shaped pendant she wears around her neck. Wearing her heart-shaped pendant helps her keep the faith that all the women who are still on the street will be safe and will find their way home.

Clemme: A Simpson Shelter Guest

“We’re all in the same boat, just with different oars. Some have lost a job or got sick. Some have been the victim of violence. No matter what, we all need to be pulling together and helping each other.”

Clemme is a guest at the Simpson Women’s Shelter. She is currently experiencing homelessness.

Clemme knows of what she speaks. A blueprint press operator all of her life, she is used to working and punching a clock. But undiagnosed diabetes sent her into a coma a few years ago…she lost her job and soon after, lost her three-bedroom house. She works temp jobs as often as she can and would love to get back into a place of her own, but on her limited income, even the application fees needed to begin the process of getting an apartment can be overwhelming.

Although she is of incredibly good cheer, she speaks of how hard it is to be homeless. “I worry about all the women out there. They’re so vulnerable. We need more shelters for women.” When she isn’t laughing or sharing stories with folks around her, she has her nose buried in the most recent book she is reading. For the time-being, Clemme is warm and safe.

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