“Someone could have the entire world ripped out from underneath them and they deserve a second chance – that’s what ShelterCare gave me,” says ShelterCare Birch program participant, Annika.
ShelterCare’s Birch program provides transitional shelter, intensive case management, and peer support to those with a pending court case who are deemed unable to advocate for themselves in court due to a mental illness. We have three group homes where individuals live, while receiving services, until they are deemed able to aid and assist with their own legal defense. At that point, program participants graduate into a six-month step-down program to help them transition into their own stable housing in the community.
Many referrals for the program, like Annika, come to ShelterCare directly from Oregon State Hospital, “I got started with Birch when I got out of the hospital. It was a very exciting day for me, it was liberating,” she explains.
“I lost my housing because I was arrested and placed in the hospital because I had mental health issues. I lost my house that I was in for eight years,” Annika explains, “I couldn’t work because I was detained for four months, so I wasn’t able to pay the rent, which was really frustrating.
”Unfortunately, Annika’s predicament is not uncommon. In fact, according to a 2018 study done by the Prison Policy Initiative, people who have been to prison just once experience homelessness at a rate nearly seven times higher than the general public. In addition, those who have been incarcerated more than once have rates 13 times higher than the general public, for many reasons, including the financial toll it takes.
Because Annika was detained for four months, she had no way to monitor her home, “my brother had found his way into my house, was squatting, and decided to cause some damages,” she says, “which I ended up having to pay for.” The funds Annika owed her landlord for this damage was a huge barrier to getting approved for housing after getting released, “after overcoming some of those barriers that were hindering me from getting housing for the last seven months, I finally got approved for an apartment recently. I am moving in at the beginning of next month! I couldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for Alice working together with me every day.
”Alice is Annika’s Case Manager in ShelterCare’s Birch program. Annika describes the impact of Alice’s work, “Their Case Workers do everything that they can to help – with appointments and scheduling and, when we first get out of the hospital, making sure we take our medications, they take us to our doctor’s appointments, they pretty much help us run our lives,” she explains, “everything I’ve needed, she’s (Alice) been there for me. I wouldn’t have this second opportunity for housing, and for life, without her.”
Alice has worked with Annika through her court case over the course of a tough seven months, “I didn’t want to go to court because the person I was going to court against was my brother; it was definitely not something I was looking forward to, so I made a deal and was able to get some of my charges dropped, which helped with housing,” Annika says.
Alice talks about what it was like working with Annika, “Annika was always positive, no matter what situation she was facing and she always approached issues with compassion and kindness. Annika is an extremely hard-working and dedicated individual and I have no doubt she will succeed in achieving all of her long-term goals.”
Annika is determined to pursue her goals and return to what normalcy looks like for her, now that she is back in her own stable housing; “I was in my previous career for five years, this whole stint has taken me out of it, but I’m going to get back into it. I’m not going to let this derail me for too long,” she says. She also says she is looking forward to returning to her hobbies, “my hobbies include artwork, painting, and crafting; I do beadwork, Alutiiq craftwork, I’m Alaskan Native.
”Alice loves getting to collaborate across ShelterCare programs to ensure those she works with succeed, “one of the favorite parts of my job is the collaboration between programs. Annika was able to obtain long-term housing with ShelterCare due to the collaboration of Birch and Permanent Supported Housing. Being able to hear from previous clients, who have graduated from Birch and are connected to other programs, about their successes and their long-term plans to stay with ShelterCare, makes me feel confident that I am transitioning people into good hands.”
Annika says, “People like Alice change lives.” Support from ShelterCare programs, staff like Alice, and a stable place to live has changed her life forever. Your donation will help us house and provide behavioral health support to more individuals, so they can continue moving forward in their personal growth. Will you change a life with us by donating today?