Amy, Tom & Ariana – A Redemption Story

In July of last year Mary Anne received a call from a homeless shelter in Camden called Joseph’s House.  She was told about a married couple expecting a baby.  Amy and Tom had been homeless since the previous October, and Amy had spent time in jail on a drug charge around the same time.  In jail, she discovered she was pregnant and at that moment decided it was time to get clean and straighten her life out.  Amy has three boys from a previous relationship who were not living with her, so she was determined this time would be different.  She wanted to raise this baby with Tom, get off drugs and make a better life for herself.

When we first met with the couple, we talked with them about what their hopes and dreams were and how we could help them. The Helpers started by immediately paying for them to stay in a motel for a couple of weeks while we looked for long-term housing.  They were fearful they would be out on the street again soon, but Mary Anne assured them that as long as they kept doing their part to move forward we would continue to do what we do best.

Mary Anne found them a rooming house with a nice kitchen.  We provided them some clothes, bedding and kitchen items.  They were receiving food stamps but Mary Anne also took Amy to WIC where she received vouchers to get healthy food.  We knew WIC would also help with formula when the baby was born. Amy attended a drug program three days a week for three hours each day.  Tom had been clean for two years and wanted to support his wife to do the same, so he encouraged her to attend the classes.

The couple also took further steps, and attended and graduated parenting classes at Baby’s Best Start through Center for Family Services. Tom also attended fatherhood classes at Healthy Start. Mary Anne enrolled the couple with Safe Return, a program she found which helps anyone who was in the county jail within the last three years to move toward rehabilitation.

Because the couple wanted something bigger and better than a rooming house, Safe Return was a great connection because it helps with security deposits on apartments.  The program also helps with furniture and household goods.  This couple was in a good place when they finally welcomed Ariana, weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz. in early November 2017. Shortly after the family moved into their own studio apartment and then again in February when their landlord had a one-bedroom apartment open up!  The couple continues to work to improve their situation.  We are also so happy to report that Amy will celebrate 10 months clean on April 12th and their plan is to have Ariana baptized soon.

Please pray for God’s continued blessings on this beautiful family! It is because of your donations and support that we are able to help take this homeless couple this far!

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” Colossians 3:12