Our House e-newsletter January & February 2014 | Page 9

“It’s vital that people see homelessness as a
threat to everyone,” Brenda says, “It affects
more than the uneducated and unemployed.”
Dave’s students connected with Mary and
Brenda in ways that he hadn’t expected.
“Mary and Brenda also provide great
examples to defy the traditional notions of
homelessness. To my surprise, Mary’s and
Brenda’s disclosures provided the impetus
for some of my class members to very
courageously discuss their own experiences
being homeless and similarly, having to raise
their families for a while in shelters like Our
House. It was very cathartic for them.”
Our Mission As An Alumni Group
Mary, Brenda, and other members of
F.R.E.S.H. are always ready for requests to
speak in college classes, at community
events, at public forums, and for any group
that’s interested in these individuals’ own
experiences with homelessness. Our House
alumni are also available for interviews for
articles and other media or materials about
homelessness or about Our House.
Mary describes the goal of the F.R.E.S.H.
group. “Educating people about my
experience leading to homelessness, and
of course the help and support I got at
Our House are part of our mission as an
alumni group.”