Sarah’s House guest Laney pictured with her two-year-old son. See Laney’s story below.
In a little over a year, 19-year-old Kianna journeyed from being homeless, unemployed and living at Sarah’s House transitional housing with her infant son to owning her own home through Habitat for Humanity, working as a full-time administrative coordinator and being a devoted mother to her two-year-old son Jamie.
Kianna entered Sarah’s House in March 2009 with her son. While living there she participated in the SHINE program which focuses on self-awareness and decision-making skills as well as parenting classes. She was able to work while her son Jamie stayed in the Sarah’s House daycare. Sarah’s House funded the tuition for her to go to driving school. With the help of her case manager, she obtained a driver’s license, a car through Vehicles for Change, and applied for housing through Habitat for Humanity. As part of the Habitat for Humanity housing program, Kianna completed 250 hours of volunteer service and 50 hours of classes such as budgeting and home decorating. This past June, Kianna and Jamie moved into their new home.
“Sarah’s House helped me grow up. They gave me the tools I needed to achieve a better life. I never thought I’d be where I am today at age 19. I was so discouraged. I owe so much to Sarah’s House,” she says. Kianna is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in hopes of becoming a social worker for juveniles.