Jessy’s Story

         Jessy is a delightful, 49-year-old woman who endured childhood trauma including domestic violence and alcohol/drug addiction in both parents. She began drinking herself at age 12 and dropped out of school. She left her parent’s home at age 14 to live with her boyfriend. She then met her partner of the past 30 years at age 17 and had two children with him. However, home life was quite chaotic due to Jessy and her partner using methamphetamine. This eventually led to the loss of their home. They lived houseless in the mountains for some seven years.

         After a serious illness and major surgery, she entered the Willamette Family Treatment Center for drug treatment, which she found very helpful. She then transitioned into a recovery house.

        One of Jessy’s barriers was not having worked outside the home until now.  However, she got a job at the University of Oregon Food Service Department, via through Goodwill Job Connections with a temp agency at the University of Oregon Food Service Department for $14.20 per hour. She worked very hard and was hired on full-time by the U of O with full benefits. She has received several raises in pay as well.

         Another barrier she faced was no recent rental history.  However, she worked on housing every day all day and found a one-bedroom apartment for $750/month, which is unusually low rent. And, to boot, she just finished her GED! She is currently exploring several possibilities regarding work she would like to do that would also boost her to a livable wage.  The photo above right shows Jessy with the keys to her first apartment.  Photo to center left is in her apartment.

          Jessy has made very swift progress since entering the recovery house 18 months ago. And, our organization has been part of that. We assisted with the deposit and first month’s rent for her apartment, emergency food aid, utility bills, and transportation (bus pass). Then shortly after getting the job at U of O, she got Covid and was out of work without pay for 10 days. This caused her to be short of money for her bills, so we paid rent and utilities as needed until she was back on her feet. Her first position at the University had large gaps in the hours she was given, as during the summer there were fewer students, hence less need for staff, and then at Christmas, she had three weeks off without pay as well. So, our organization helped her with bills during that time.

        Our commitment to the women and families we serve is to assist them over time with housing, keep their heat and lights on, give them adequate food, as well as funding for that which is necessary for them to move into livable-wage work. We will do just about anything to prevent a client from entering into homelessness again.