All photo credit by me & students from RBCS 

Meracy on Frankford Ave:

North Western Human services: No Addict but

This agency helped place me in a shelter that was most suitable, being this my first ever time being displaced.  

The eviction notice that was fraudulently issued to displace me from the home I lived in with my two children, two dogs, and a cat was served on July 12, 2022, following two other attempts and the deployment of a different sheriff officers by the so-called landlord. 

The supervising agent voiced his frustration and insisted that my family and I grab as many belongings as we could and locate to an appropriate place to spend the night after we spent several hours explaining everything, comparing documents, times, and of two separate attempts to do eviction before. 

I'll have to come back and explain how I ever ended up in this predicament. It had a lot to do with money, though not in the way that was customarily thought. I will discuss East Tioga Street at a later time, but for now, let me share my first-ever experience of being forced to stay in a shelter without having to sell my soul.

When you cant do anything 

else do, what you can, and 

then allow God to finish 

the rest!

                               Artist: RBCS student

 year 2022 Center City Philadelphia

After working out a time and day to remove the remaining items from the house, I made multiple phone calls to make sure my daughter and the animals were safe. I also took the Merakey employee's business card and informed them that I would give them a call in a few days if I needed any help from the company. My son and I checked into the hotel for a few days until a final decision was made.

My son chose to move to Texas a few months ahead of schedule after spending approximately a week in the hotel, and I made the decision to check myself into a homeless shelter for the first time rather than bothering friends and relatives with my troubles.  It was terrible and exceedingly difficult to be apart from my family.

Jesus commands that we follow His example and also care for the poor: “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42). God expects His people to help those who are homeless. 

The family's separation was heartbreaking, made worse by the news that my cat Cheetah had vanished and that Sassy, one of the dogs, was expecting a puppy. I wondered how the temporary home would manage to care for Sassy  and the puppies.  I was given many weeks to devise a strategy and to safeguard and manage my own emotional well-being throughout the entire ordeal.

Picture is Sassy graduating from 

PetCo

On October 4, 2022 Eight puppies were born to Sassy the dog. Unfortunately, only six who survived were placed in a loving, caring family. Due to Sassy's hostile behavior following her delivery, she also had to be adopted away. She now lives with a generous woman named Pam, who provides me with updates and photos of Sassy's vacations in Florida, where she is spending time on the beach with a view of the ocean.  Cheetah the cat vanished out of sight for some reason, Saddle

First meal at the shelter!

RHD Fernwood provides emergency housing for single men/women in Philadelphia referred by Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services. Assessments focus on the immediate needs of the individual. Linkages with community services enable individuals to address primary social service and housing needs.

I eventually took a deep breath and let go of the nerve to head to Fernwood Shelter to finish organizing the rest of my life without collapsing under the weight of everyone else's cries and shouts after seeing my kid off to Texas and getting the rest of the family taken care of. On my first day at the shelter, I was able to see the first meals that would be provided, which were the same meals that the jail next door was providing for its inmates.

The first night at the shelter was difficult, but it gave me hope for a better future. Sounds of moans, groans, singing, and talking within their sleep made for a restless night. Not only did some women pace the floors from room to room, but there were argruments that erupted throughout the night as well. Despite the restless night, I was determined to find peace and rest. I knew that it would be a challenge, but I refused to let the chaos consume me. After several weeks of witnessing the constant turmoil, I noticed the shelter had placed residents with different needs (mental health & substance abuse)  together without proper support and placement. This lack of support and placement created a dangerous and unstable environment for everyone involved, making it clear that immediate action was necessary. 

Inadequate and unsatisfactory living conditions started to take a toll on me. I couldn't bear it any longer. I was switched from one room to another without any improvement in sight. It went from being 4 to a room to nearly 6 to a room, making it very unsafe and overcrowded. After about a month of enduring these conditions, my mental and physical health started deteriorating rapidly. Not only did I catch COVID, but it spread among the facility residents and staff like wildfire. Several people were hospitalized, and one even died as a result. As a result, the authorities finally took action and implemented the necessary measures to improve the situation. By moving us into one of the empty buildings on the facility grounds, they hoped to mitigate the spread of the infection, and provide us with a safer and more isolated environment.  A dream that was shattered by unforeseen complications. 

Passing time away I would take walks, find diffrent plants and research benefits!