Skills and Support for Self-Sufficiency
Diana Ferguson, her boyfriend, and her three young children had just a few hours to evacuate before Hurricane Isabel hit the North Carolina coast in September 2003. When they returned to their home, they discovered they were left with nothing.
Diana grew up in Hawai‘i and her parents are still living on O‘ahu. With her own family forced to regroup and her grandmother's death shortly after, Diana decided to return home to Hawai‘i. At first, her family stayed in her mother's subsidized housing and later moved to care for her father at his home in ‘Aiea. It was soon clear that neither was able to manage living with Diana's family of five. In January, with nowhere to go and not a penny to spend, a camping permit was the closest thing her family had to a home. A few days later, she was referred to Catholic Charities Hawai‘i's Ma‘ili Land Transitional Housing (MTH) program.
Diana quickly learned MTH is more than just a place to stay. All residents are required to participate in the education, skill building, and employment programs available on-site; develop and work toward timelines and specific goals; and actively strive for self-sufficient independence at the end of their (maximum) 24-month stay. After moving her family into MTH, Diana chose to enroll in MTH's Competency Based High School Diploma Program (CBase) and immediately began her studies.
As summer approached, everything seemed to be coming together for the family. Diana was taking care of the children and doing well in her CBase classes, the kids were making friends, and her boyfriend was working as a landscaper. Yet Diana was about to face another personal challenge.
“Neighbors really keep an eye out for each other around here,” she said of the MTH community, “and they told the staff, ‘Diana needs help'.” Diana was being abused by her boyfriend, but resisted the help and intervention offered by MTH. “I could not face up to the fact it was happening to me. I didn't see it. I was in denial,” she says now. MTH staff insisted Diana attend domestic violence classes and helped evict her boyfriend. “I was doing everything I could to take charge of my life and make a better one for my kids, but I had to get out of that situation to do it.”
Presently, everyone is feeling more at ease, confident, and looking forward to the future. Diana's twelve-year-old son is proving to be a leader as a quarterback and plays with his brother on the school's flag football team; her eight-year-old daughter is enjoying dance classes and her Girl Guides; and Diana marked her 38th birthday with her CBASE diploma. Since then, she has been working at the MTH daycare, so “other women can get their education without using childcare as an excuse not to -- like I did.”
Diana is proud of what her family has accomplished and credits the staff, restrictions, and requirements at MTH for helping her achieve independence. She said, “I know that some people here are uncomfortable about the rules, but I honestly don't know if I would have followed through without them. They stayed on me and once I started school I loved it!” In fact, Diana is currently working on college applications, because she is planning to become a social service case manger herself.
“The people at MTH are my heroes. Every employee is here to help. When I cried, they listened. When I said ‘I need', they were there. They really want you to succeed and are there to make it happen. Whenever you're ready, they are there for you.”