Temeka Royster was ecstatic to finally receive the keys to her second home since coming to Community of Hope’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Program in 2011. After eighteen months of renting rooms and sleeping on couches and floors with her son, Damonte, Ms. Royster had enough when she witnessed a drug-addicted roommate abuse his girlfriend. Fearing their safety , she fled with her son to a neighbor’s home. “This is too much! He’s beating her, I don’t want my son seeing this. I just can’t do it.”
The following day, she visited Virginia Williams Family Resource Center and was referred to transitional housing. Shortly after she enrolled into a three year culinary program at the Art Institute and started a part-time job at Service Employee International Union. “Once you have a stable living situation, then you can focus on school and work and all of those other things” She reflects.
In her time at Community of Hope,she has taken full advantage of the many wraparound resources Community of Hope offers, including a mentor for Damonte and now the new Health and Resource Center, located walking distance from her home. “When I heard Community of Hope was moving to the community, I was excited because everything is all in one place. I can see my case manager, go see the doctor, and get my teeth cleaned. It is resourceful and convenient.”
Ms. Royster has big plans for her future. “There hasn’t been a time when COH has let me down. Even the days you feel unmotivated or not getting out of bed, I look back at all the encouragement. It’s a blessing to know that you’re important. To know that you’re not doing it by yourself is comforting.”
