Hope is studying on campus between classes.

Hope is balancing school, work and family life with a positive attitude and plans for the future.

A year ago Hope and her two children were homeless and had been for several years. Couch-hopping, sleeping in parks and in company vehicles where she worked was how the family got through the nights in Minneapolis.

They had found their way to a local family shelter when a case-worker told them about the Simpson Family Housing lottery. As luck would have it, their name was chosen in the weekly lottery (an average of 70 families call every week) and they were soon in an apartment.

“I feel so blessed for the opportunity of a new start. We have not been stable for years. It’s good to know where you’re going.” Shortly after entering the Simpson Family Housing program, with the help of her Simpson family advocate, Hope earned her G.E.D. Hope’s children are focusing on being kids. Her six-year old son is in first grade and is an active, spirited boy who loves sports. His family advocate helps him to do his best in school. Hope's four-year old daughter is independent, quiet and loves to create art.

A few weeks ago Hope started classes at a local college in pursuit of her Medical Office Assistant degree. Balancing three college courses with her job at the Mall of America while taking care of her two children can prove challenging, but she knows the efforts will be well worth it. “I eventually want to go on to school to be a nurse. I love being around people and being there to help people.”

Simpson Housing is focusing on helping our families work towards financial stability. In 2008, 67% of the transitional housing graduates showed increased income. At program entrance, the average monthly income of families was $619 and at exit, it was $885. Also in 2008, 55% of the non-disabled transitional housing families were working or in school upon program exit; at entrance only 13% had been working or in school.

Geraldine and Rapid Exit Housing Advocate Amy Stroman

Geraldine has become a morning person.

This is easier to do now that she has her own bed to wake up in every morning. Being a morning person comes in handy during her shift tending the breakfast bar at a Comfort Inn in a Minneapolis suburb. Most likely, the hotel guests that love chatting with her have no idea that she was recently homeless. Life is good right now. She has been settled in her north Minneapolis apartment for four months and work is going well.

Flash back thirty or so years: Geraldine and her husband were raising their son in their south Minneapolis home that they were enjoying remodeling. Geraldine worked as a hair dresser for many years, and then took a turn at an administrative job for Hennepin County. Life threw her a curve ball when her husband was diagnosed with M.S. and she also lost her job with the county. Years passed by and Geraldine found herself alone. She inherited her father’s house (and its mortgage) near Minnehaha Falls and was working at Marshall Field’s. When Marshall Field’s was sold, Geraldine lost her job, and not long after, her house was foreclosed upon.

The buzz around town was that there were jobs to be had in Branson, Missouri. Geraldine (who has always been open to new opportunities) decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, when she got there, the area’s economy was experiencing the same downturn that was happening everywhere and Geraldine was not able to find work. Geraldine moved back to Minneapolis, but was without a place to live.

Thanks to both the Simpson Women’s Shelter and Our Saviour’s Shelter, Geraldine was never on the street. In addition to a bed and three meals, she was able to see a nurse, get a flu shot, and have her hair done. She also participated in the Simpson Savings Program that secured her a bed for an extended period of time. After a couple of months in the shelters, Geraldine got connected with Housing Advocate Amy Stroman and the Simpson Rapid Exit program, which is designed to expedite the move from a shelter to permanent housing. Thirty percent of her income goes towards her apartment in public housing. Navigating the world of public housing can be tricky, but her advocate Amy helped her with the process.

Now that she is in housing, Geraldine is able to focus on some of the things she loves to do like exercising, embroidery, playing Scrabble, being a grandmother and volunteering at her church. There was not any one thing that caused Geraldine’s bout with homelessness – more a series of unlucky events. When Geraldine needed help, she sought it out, her luck turned around, and she found home.

Simpson Stories

Paula		Geraldine
ESAs Jean and Rachel		Anthony
Jocelyne and Jazmyne		Brian B.
Wilbur and Mary G.		Liz, Nataly and Liz
Cynthia		Josephine
Brian K.		Nicole
Helen's family		Ron R.
LaTonya		John R.
John M.		Clemme
Arnold		Jessica view video
William		Kim and Justin