Ambler Interfaith — Where Families Find a New Start
This is part of an ongoing series featuring the BucksMont Collaborative and its members, serving Bucks County and a large swath of Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.bucksmontcollab.org. We are an association of 76 nonprofit organizations, along with other community-minded partners, that improves our communities and strengthens our nonprofit members. Its roots date to 1987. For questions about the Collaborative, contact Ella Roush, Coordinator, ella@bucksmontcollab.org, 215-234-4022. To learn more or register for our May 18 Summit on Trauma & Resilience, visit www.bucksmontcollab.org/ event-calendar/collaborative-events/trauma-summit-may-18-2017.
Prior to coming into shelter at Inter-Faith Housing Alliance I had so many life struggles. I lived in foster care most of my life and aged out. I attempted to search for my family out of state, but found that those relationships weren’t good either. I had my son out of state and then became homeless. I then moved back to Pennsylvania to a boyfriend’s apartment until he became abusive. My son and I then ended up street homeless again.
A Montgomery County agency paid for a hotel for my son and me to stay until a spot became open in shelter. When I showed up to my meeting with the case manager, she did not judge me and was very patient as I adjusted to shelter. It was like I had no worries at all besides to do what was in my control.
Inter-Faith gave me a new start and took a lot of burdens off my back. When I moved in, I did not have a job, I had no income, and I was very stressed out. The program gave me a comfortable and safe place to stay and help with food, laundry, and carfare. I was supported by my case manager, office staff, and volunteers throughout my stay. While in the program, I was able to manage my mental health and start searching for employment and an apartment. I even connected to resources for help with parenting. Knowing my background, the case manager supported me and met with county officials to make sure that, moving out into the community independently for the first time, I had a village of supports that I could call on.
My son and I are in the best place of our lives that we’ve ever been. I learned so much about myself and time and money management while working with the program. I learned to not continue negative relationships that will affect me. I also learned to hold myself accountable for my own actions and to do better every chance I get.
Thank you to Inter-Faith staff for helping me to get to where I am. I don’t know where my son and I would have ended up if I did not come into shelter and receive all the help and support you offered to me. This year was the first Christmas that my son and I spent together happily in our own home. On top of that, we received so many gifts and aftercare support that continues to motivate me to stay on track. Saying thank you just isn’t enough, but thankful I truly am.
For over 25 years InterFaith Housing Alliance (Inter-Faith) has been engaging the community to create positive outcomes for Montgomery County families experiencing the harsh and complex issues of poverty and homelessness. Inter-Faith Housing Alliance partners with local congregations, dedicated volunteers and generous donors so we can work together to prevent and resolve homelessness in our own backyard. Today, Inter-Faith Housing Alliance has evolved to a comprehensive program offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive housing, and emergency food assistance.
Families living in poverty are under constant distress. Hunger, scarcity, and housing insecurity caused by poverty often lead to chronic trauma. Under these conditions, families are ill-equipped to gain access to services that lead to self-sufficiency. By stabilizing a family’s housing situation and providing critical services that support movement towards self-sufficiency, Inter-Faith works to mitigate the effects of homelessness on the children and families we serve.
Inter-Faith has been responding to the needs of our most vulnerable population for over a quarter century. Our longevity and ability to adapt to a constantly changing landscape is a testament to our organization’s strength and fortitude. The entire premise of Inter-Faith Housing Alliance is a diverse network helping those in need. That’s it. It seems so simple that we sometimes forget how beautiful it is.