Kim and Justin Are Having a Great Summer

Kim and her son Justin live in a cozy apartment in a tidy building on a quiet, tree-lined street in Minneapolis. Their building is well-maintained and has a beautiful, lush lawn surrounding it. Their apartment is a mix of antiques, comfortable furniture and kid’s toys. Peanut the guinea pig is at home in a cage in the living room.

Just a couple of years ago such a home seemed like a distant dream to Kim and Justin. Bouts of un-diagnosed depression and severe anxiety sent Kim into a crisis situation. She lost her job and she and Justin soon found themselves homeless. Kim’s oldest daughter went to live with Kim’s parents and her 16 year-old daughter, who is legally blind and has cerebral palsy, went to be cared for in a group-home. After a year of living at Mary’s Place at Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis, a caseworker at Project Connect of Hennepin County put Kim and Justin in touch with Simpson Housing Services Family Housing Program.

Two years ago Kim reports she felt “down and out and I didn’t feel like I was such a great parent. But now I feel like all the pieces are in place.” With the help of the Transitional Housing program and her Simpson advocate, Kim is being treated for her depression and anxiety. Kim and Justin’s apartment is cozy and neat and has the comfortable feel that they have lived there forever. A couple of weeks ago, Kim attended the high-school graduation of her oldest daughter

“Simpson has helped us so much. Everything is going just great.” Justin has been working with his Simpson Educational Support Advocate and a volunteer Simpson tutor to help him catch up in school and this coming school year he will be entering the fourth grade. He is bright, energetic, and happy.

Kim and Justin attended the recent Family Housing Summer Barbeque together. All the people with whom they have worked at Simpson were excited to see them and to witness how well they are doing. Kim has a happy look about her. It seems to be a look of hope for the future.

Family Housing program participant Jessica talks about her experiences with homelessness and Simpson Housing

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