Women at risk routinely transition from shelter to Chadwick Residence to success. Our residents live, learn and grow with education and housing assistance. Here are just a few examples of how Chadwick Residence helps women from all different ages, backgrounds and situations.
Dina’s Story
I had a stroke and couldn’t go back to work. I lost everything and ended up in an abusive relationship. Finally, I got courage to leave that abuse, even if that meant I would be on the streets.
I went to a shelter and they connected me with Chadwick Residence. At first I was afraid because I didn’t know what to expect. But, when I got there and met with my case manager, she told me that I could not fail as long as I tried.
I kept trying to get over the pain of my divorce, having a stroke and not being connected to my family. At my age, how could I be in a shelter? But, I was and I had to figure out what to do with myself.
The staff helped me get into a support group and I attended all of the groups available at the Residence. It helped me and I started to feel confident about myself and my future.
After a year, I moved out on my own and now, although I still have some fears and some pain, I am not in the same place I was. Chadwick Residence helped me to face myself and think about who I wanted to be.
Other Success Stories
- A 25-year-old was homeless after fleeing domestic violence. She was a high school graduate and former U.S. Marine. She had a young son who was temporarily living with his grandfather. More ...A 25-year-old was homeless after fleeing domestic violence. She was a high school graduate and former U.S. Marine. She had a young son who was temporarily living with his grandfather. With the assistance of her case manager, she developed a résumé and obtained full-time employment with medical benefits. She was also able to find a safe, affordable, one-room apartment in the community. She intends to bring her son to live with her full-time.
- A 52-year-old lived in the residence for six months. She had a history of substance abuse and had recently been released from a correctional facility. She was, however, very intelligent, had some good skills and was in recovery from substance abuse. She was very motivated to obtain employment. More ...A 52-year-old lived in the residence for six months. She had a history of substance abuse and had recently been released from a correctional facility. She was, however, very intelligent, had some good skills and was in recovery from substance abuse. She was very motivated to obtain employment. She worked closely with students from the Syracuse University Whitman School of Business and put together a good, adaptable résumé. She applied for several jobs and was considered for employment, but was having a hard time due to her criminal history.
She sought assistance from a program at a local human services agency that advises clients who have past criminal charges, what they can do to increase their likelihood of obtaining employment. She also took a leadership skills class through that program. She did volunteer work to make productive use of her time and expand her network. She moved to the Chadwick Residence Permanent Supportive Housing apartment program and has had several part-time jobs but has also been having some medical problems. She is currently employed part-time and is taking college courses. - A 30-year-old was in the program for eight months. This woman had multiple physical and mental health issues. More ...A 30-year-old was in the program for eight months. This woman had multiple physical and mental health issues. Her physical issues include prior brain surgery, hypothyroidism and adrenal gland insufficiency. She had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD. Even though she had had full-time employment in the past, it became apparent that due to her combined physical and mental health issues, she was not likely to gain substantial, gainful employment. Chadwick Residence staff assisted with applying for SSI/SSDI benefits. With the increase in her income, she was able to find a decent, safe studio apartment in the community.
- A 54-year-old was homeless due to problems arising from her mental health and substance abuse problems. Her case manager helped her obtain weekly counseling. More ...A 54-year-old was homeless due to problems arising from her mental health and substance abuse problems. Her case manager helped her obtain weekly counseling. She also had a physical disability that resulted in her being legally blind.
While in the program, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and sought treatment. She moved to the Chadwick Residence Permanent Supportive Housing apartment program and began researching GED classes and would like to attend as soon as she has completed treatment.
- A 32-year-old who was deaf with a young son lived in the Residence for eight months. She is another woman who Chadwick Residence accepted into the program when other programs in the community were reluctant to. More ...A 32-year-old who was deaf with a young son lived in the Residence for eight months. She is another woman who Chadwick Residence accepted into the program when other programs in the community were reluctant to. The program made accommodations for her, including setting up a computer for her use that allowed her to make phone calls using a Skype-like connection. This allowed her to both “speak” and be “spoken” to through the use of a sign language interpreter.
She could be very argumentative in her interpersonal interactions, but the staff did what they could to meet her expressed needs including providing on-site interpreters for important meetings with her. She was assisted with getting her son into a Head Start program that had both hearing and deaf children. He was hearing and could communicate with both voice and sign.
They moved to a Chadwick Residence Permanent Supportive Housing apartment. They were assisted with obtaining a Section 8 voucher and were able to move to a subsidized apartment in the community.
- A 46-year-old was in the program for a year. At one point, her case manager had to assist her with re-applying for public assistance because she lost her shelter allowance and cash assistance after missing required mental health treatment appointments. More ...A 46-year-old was in the program for a year. At one point, her case manager had to assist her with re-applying for public assistance because she lost her shelter allowance and cash assistance after missing required mental health treatment appointments. This woman had both developmental and mental health disabilities and didn’t understand that she would lose her benefits when she missed or was late for some of her counseling appointments. The case manager worked with her to get into another counseling program that could give her the treatment that she needed.
She was assisted with her résumé and applying for jobs online, but was unable to obtain employment. Her work history consisted of informally helping with a family paving business and doing some house cleaning. Unfortunately, she also had a history of some prostitution.
We transferred her to one of our apartments. Her initial SSI/SSDI application was denied, but her case manager helped her with an appeal and she was found eligible for benefits. She later decided to move in with a friend of hers in an independent apartment in the community.
- A 60-year-old was in the program for 10 months. Due to her age and mental health issues, she was not likely to gain substantial, gainful employment and was resistant to filing for SSI/SSDI because she did not believe she had any mental health problems. More ...A 60-year-old was in the program for 10 months. Due to her age and mental health issues, she was not likely to gain substantial, gainful employment and was resistant to filing for SSI/SSDI because she did not believe she had any mental health problems. She was somewhat resistant to the program, but her case manager was successful in getting her to apply for subsidized senior/disabled housing.
She was accepted and moved into subsidized housing. It was difficult to keep her in the program because of her inappropriate interpersonal behavior, but the staff was able to mediate between her and the other residents and keep her in the program long enough to find her safe, affordable permanent housing.
- A 21-year-old was in the program for 21 months. She had a history of a mood disorder and difficulty maintaining focus on a task and completing it. More ...A 21-year-old was in the program for 21 months. She had a history of a mood disorder and difficulty maintaining focus on a task and completing it. She attended therapy and staff assisted her with identifying behaviors that she needed to change. When she was in the program, she was working a part-time retail job and receiving partial public assistance.
With the help of Syracuse University volunteers, she updated her résumé and got a second part-time job. Eventually, however, she lost both jobs. She decided to take the GED test and passed all but one section.
She received tutoring from Syracuse University volunteers to help her pass the last segment of her exam and succeeded. She then entered a training program to become a certified nurse assistant and passed that exam as well. Staff assisted her with developing life skills such as budgeting and time management. She obtained work as a CNA and moved to her own independent apartment in the community.
- A 21-year-old was in the residence for almost two years. She did not have support or guidance as a child so she is somewhat immature and also has social anxiety. More ...A 21-year-old was in the residence for almost two years. She did not have support or guidance as a child so she is somewhat immature and also has social anxiety. She has had relationships with several men while in the program and in September, she had a baby.
While she gets frustrated at times, she does generally take good care of the baby. Clients can only stay in the program at the Residence for two years, so she was moved to one of our apartments. She receives support from her case manager, who also facilitated her receiving support from other programs in the community in order to address her mental health issues, assist her with parenting skills, etc.
Her case manager has seen significant improvement in her life skills and parenting skills. They are exploring programs in the community that could assist her with her goal of obtaining her GED. She will need one-to-one assistance or a small group setting because she gets very nervous in social situations. She is receiving counseling.
