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THE IDEA WOMAN
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| Former Resident Freely Shares her
Experiences |
When Dina gets an idea about how to
find housing or hears about a new training program,
she calls The Haven. While Dina, an Aftercare Program
participant, moved out of the facility with her first
son Dominic nearly ten years ago, The Haven remains
in the forefront of her mind. She is active in the Aftercare
Program and even gives back by participating on the
program’s Advisory Board.
“Through the Advisory Board, I can
share my experiences and what I know. I really enjoy
passing on information to others,” says Dina. “I believe
in karma. If you do a good deed, it will come back to
you.
Dina has been involved in the Advisory
Board since The Haven’s Executive Director Diane Berry
initiated the program in 2004. The Board consists of
five Aftercare participants who help Lisa Strong, Aftercare
Program Manager, plan the Mom’s Day Outs, provide feedback
on the program, and act as liaisons between the other
program participants and The Haven.
“I was asked to join because I had
the initiative and the ideas. The other Board members
and I wanted to help the other women and give them more
direction,” says Dina.
Dina sees the Board as a way through
which women can share information on issues like finding
housing, how to handle difficult landlords, and how
to get utility assistance, among other things.
As an Aftercare participant, Dina
has also received assistance from The Haven. She received
two scholarships and day care assistance for one year
while she was in school studying to be a Practical Medical
Assistant. Dina has been working for St. Luke’s Hospital
since 2004. She also received rent deposit assistance
when she moved into a four-bedroom house. She is also
actively working on buying a house and will participate
in The Haven’s Homebuyer’s Club, through which she will
be eligible for a $1,000 stipend for closing costs.
Dina is looking forward to the prospect of joining the
other 13 former Haven residents who have purchased their
own homes through the Club . Dina’s experience with
The Haven has been very positive. It helped her when
she was turned out of her home, and now she relishes
the opportunity to give back through the Advisory Board.
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