Ascension Place
Melissa came to Ascension Place after spending 20 years on the streets.  She was addicted to drugs and had a history of prostitution, abuse, and homelessness.  Melissa came to Ascension Place after being sober for only a couple of months.  She spent six months at our facility and participated in a number of programs and activities, including chemical health programs.  She also completed a job training program through Twin Cities Rise.  In June of 2006 Melissa moved out of Ascension Place and into permanent housing.  Today, she is 2½ years sober.  She is working fulltime as a receptionist at a local nonprofit and has maintained her own apartment for over a year.  She  has also reunited with her daughter whom she had not seen in 20 years.   Melissa is a shining example of how coming to Ascension Place can help to turn a woman’s life around.

St. Anne’s Place
Raquel, a single 23 year old mother of two children ages six years and one month, has stayed at St. Anne’s Place twice in a one year period.  She had been homeless since she was 15 years old and as a teenager lived in youth shelters and group homes.  During her first stay at St. Anne’s Place she did not do well in the program.  She was angry and had trouble following the rules.  The staff had difficulty getting her to attend groups and meetings.  She left for several months and sent her son to stay with a friend.  Throughout this period, she lived outside or stayed with different friends (“couch hopping”).  During this time, she continued to call St. Anne’s Place to see if she could return.  On May 3, 2007, Raquel returned to St. Anne’s Place on the condition that she participated fully in the program.  She attended parenting group and reading group. Her son participated in the tutoring program, the fitness program, and even attended a Vikings game with staff.  Raquel truly turned her behavior around and was much more positive.  She stated that she knew what it was like to be homeless and she did not want to be there again.  Because of Raquel’s positive behavior, she was referred to a long term housing program.  She was accepted into this program and moved out of St. Anne's Place in August 2007.  She has a rent subsidy and a case manager to help her and check in with her.  She is a true example of how the St. Anne’s Place program can work.