Kashi’s Story
The miracle began on July27, 2007. They accepted me at the Apostles’ House with open arms. My name is Kashi H. I am 36 years old and a mother of two children. I was born in East Orange NJ, in a single parent home. I watched my mother struggle raising four kids by her self. I believe in my heart she did the best she knew how at the time. She worked and went to school. Kids were not in her plan, so I grew up fast. I had to fight all my life and I had a serious problem with anger.
Growing up as a young teenager I thought I never fit in. I had no one to look up to so I became fascinated with the streets. The streets showed me the most love. At the age of seventeen I became a teenage mother, a drop out and an addict. I struggled trying to raise my daughter. She is nineteen years old now with a two year old son of her own. The cycle was repeating.
When she was a child, my daughter was cared for by my mother and I was living on the streets. My addiction was progressing. I was in and out of jails and institutions, my daughter became a ward of the State. Eventually she was placed at the Apostles’ House with her newborn son. At the same time I had a son that was taken from me at birth. Little did I know my daughter was reaching out for help for me.
This is how I met the Ms. Sandra and Ms. Carol from the Apostles' House. They asked me if I wanted help and I said yes. I believe help does not always have to come from the people you know. They took me to an inpatient treatment program but I got kicked out because of my anger issues. I eventually went back to jail. I was tired. I was in a program for addicts, they helped me get into an aftercare program upon my release.
I tried living with my sister but things did not work out there. I was learning how to maintain my recovery so I reached out for help at my treatment program. They helped me find the Apostles' House. I was living at the same place that helped my daughter and grandchild, now me [wow!].
I met with the staff, and we developed a case plan to help me get my son back. I thought to myself, I have to trust these people with my life. They believed in me more than I believed in myself. The miracle began and a new woman started to emerge.
Living at the Apostle’s House I have accomplished a lot of things. I have full custody of my son. I am attending school for my GED and hope to go to college to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I completed parenting and anger management classes. The Apostles' House helped me get my first apartment so that I can raise my family. Someone believing in me saved my life.
I would like to thank the Apostles’ House for believing in me. Especially Ms. Sandra, Ms. Brown, Mr. Good, Ms. Burkett, Ms. Ingram and everyone else who dedicate their time to helping people. I was volunteering as my way of giving back what was so freely given to me. I now have a part time job cooking dinner week days at the Shelter. I love my new found family and friends.
Thank you I am truly a special miracle of the Apostles’ House, Kashi H. & Family
Amira's Story
From the moment I stepped foot in the Apostles' House I knew this was a loving place. Everyone made me and my son feel at home. This was an opportunity, a door opened from God; I would be able to get my life together and be happy. If I could not do it for myself then I had to do it for my son, Zuhri.
The Apostles’ House staff’ supported me when ever I needed help with my problems. We met great people in the Shelter. Some of the people lived there like me and some came in from other places to speak to us and make us feel good about ourselves. My son still to this day talks about the musician that did magic and sang the brush your teeth song. Even now he sings that song as he brushes his teeth.
One of the best times I experienced was a trip to the Country Club in West Orange for a brunch and Women’s Day conference. Listening to women who had been in a shelter themselves and seeing where they are now in their lives gave me the belief that I could do it too. From that day on something changed for me, I knew I could make a great life for myself and my child.
I faced a lot of difficulties but I stayed true to myself. I took direction from The Apostles' House staff. As a result, today I live at the Stratford Supportive Housing Facility in my own apartment. I have never been happier. My son has his own room. I feel safe and I do not have to have my son around activities that were unhealthy for him.
Before coming here I was not in control of my circumstances, today I am. I am doing everything I need to so that we can keep our home..
I want to say thank you to all of the Apostles' House staff and to the many people that generously come in and volunteer their time. All of you made an impact on me and helped me to change my life. I have much love for all of you.
I changed my life for the better at the Apostles’ House, I prayed and worked hard and they helped me.
akram
Amira S.
Gina’s Story
My journey to a better life began at the Apostles’ House. It was June 14th, 2006 when I was released from State prison to the Intensive Supervision Program. I remember, ISP telling me I was going to the Apostles’ House, a shelter for women and children in Newark, New Jersey where I was to reside until further notice. I had never been to Newark and did not know what to expect. Once I arrived at the Apostles’ House I became acquainted with all the wonderful staff. They were a big inspiration to me then and still are today. I was so inspired by the work they did that I knew I wanted to help others too.
I started volunteering at the Apostles’ House a month after I arrived. I was doing outreach and mentoring some of the other women who resided there. After a few months of doing outreach work I met the CEO, Sandra Accomando, and she asked me to work at the Apostles’ House administrative building as a receptionist.
Today I am employed with the Apostles’ House as the Administrative Assistant. I also work part time on the weekends with the teen moms at our Multigenerational Program. I try to show all of the residents you can overcome any obstacle thrown your way, just look at what I have accomplished. Miracles really do happen everyday.
Gina M.
A Grateful Heart
My name is not important, only the joy and gratitude that I feel in my heart for The Apostles’ House. Some time ago I was addicted to drugs, and jailed 42 times for shoplifting, selling drugs, and loitering. Not that I had to, but because I had been doing it for so long I did not remember another way to live and be happy.
I come from a good family; no one had ever been to jail. I lived in Piscataway New Jersey and my mother worked for the government for 35 years. I graduated from Piscataway High School.
By the age of 21, I was going in and out of jail. The last time I went to jail my mother moved to North Carolina and didn’t leave a phone number. I knew I had to stop, there had to be a better way to live.
After I was released from jail I lived in a shelter. I could not get any assistance from welfare because of my drug charge. I had to find a way to live so I would not be out on the streets. I had some prior work history and got a part time job for an agency doing outreach to the homeless in Newark, New Jersey. I went back to school for Substance Abuse Counseling.
Someone informed me the Apostles House was seeking a Case Manager and I applied for the job. I told them my story and I asked Ms. Brown for an opportunity to prove what I could do. I was hired as a House Technician, after one year I became the Case Manager, and now I am the Director of a Program. I am grateful to the Apostles House for giving me the opportunity to prove myself and now I help empower other women to become self sufficient.
Today, I am married to a good man and I moved in to a 4 bedroom apartment. I have a place for my child and grandchildren too. I will be going back to school this year and hope to have a degree in Human Services one day soon. The Apostles House is a great place for me to work. I have been blessed. Ms. Accomando, the CEO, and Ms. Brown, the COO, are readily available. Their doors are always open to talk about anything and get advice. They encourage me and this helps me to encourage others.
Thank you Apostle’s House for opening your hearts and minds and giving me a chance.
A Grateful Heart
Asata’s Story
My name is Asata, my son and I resided at The Apostles' House Multigenerational Program for teen moms and their child. I was a teenage mother and a victim of domestic violence. I was released from the hospital and arrived at the Apostles’ House on June 22, 2007.
I remember the day I arrived at the Apostles’ House with my DYFS worker, my son was not with me because his father had taken him and no one knew where he was. When I met the girls and their kids I felt welcomed and comfortable. I instantly connected with the other girls. A few days later my son was brought to the Apostles’ House too.
I began attending Technology High School and I graduated this past June. I started attending the Women in Crisis, Special Initiative Program given at the Apostles’ House. They helped me create my resume. I acquired hands on work experience in the main office answering the phone. I also worked on my computer skills and organized Ms. Accomando’s office. I attended parenting classes where I learned to praise my son, use time-outs, relaxation techniques and how to play with my son.
Living at the Apostles’ House Multigenerational Program was a great experience for me. Living with five girls and their children was difficult at times. We had our ups and downs but at the end of the day we were like a family. We cooked for each other on the weekends, cleaned together and took care of each other’s children as if they were our own. When one of the girls would leave it felt like we were losing a member of our family, we had got that close. I did not have too much freedom, we had a strict curfew, but I got used to it.
I lived at the program for a year and I was offered the opportunity to move into my own apartment at the new Stratford Supportive Housing Building. First I had to prove I was capable of living on my own. I made sure my son attended school everyday, and then I went to school. I kept all of his doctor’s appointments, gave him his medicine, and kept our room very clean. I proved I was capable and now I am living in my own apartment.
I believe if it was not for the Apostles' House I would never have gotten the chance of a lifetime, to live in a brand new furnished apartment. It feels so good to be on my own and to live life as an adult. My son is three years old now. I am not expecting it to always be easy but I am willing to accept the challenge.
Asata P.
Tiffany's Story
Before coming to The Apostles' House I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that I was being placed there through the Intensive Supervision Program. And like most I feared the unknown. Well, what I got was not what I expected...
It was a life changing experience that I will never forget.
You see I came to The Apostles' House after being released from state prison onto the Intensive Supervision Program. I had lived a certain way of life for so long, and just didn't remember any other way of living. All I knew was that I wanted something different. And it was here that I learned truly what that something different was.
The staff was an inspiration to me, the way that they would do whatever they could for you, while not receiving anything in return but thanks. While I was a client I took part in many of the services provided such as the Special Initiative program, where they teach you job readiness as well as the resources out there to help you. Having criminal offenses on my record this program especially helped me. Another service provided is that a psychologist is brought once a week to sit down with the ladies individually and run group sessions.
Another effect of having criminal offenses against me is that it was difficult for me to find a job. My case manager really went up to bat for me, and I met with Sandra Accomando. I was then hired for a part time position. Since that day I have been hired on full time as the Administrative Assistant. I have my own apartment and have succeeded in becoming self sufficient and maintaining it.
The most memorable experience I have had here was in the Christmas season with the adopt-a-family program. A family was meeting the family that adopted them and exchanging the gifts, the smiles on everyone's faces was just awesome and heart warming. It was then that I knew I was where I truly wanted to be.
I am truly grateful to The Apostles’ House for what they have done for me, and for believing that people do change. |
