Our House e-newsletter May 2011 | Page 6

Putting Her Life Back On Track By Ty Stacey, Shelter Manager Portia Jordan arrived in our shelter in fall 2010. At the time, she did not have any clear goals or the ability to live independently. She was trying her best to take care of her 2-yearold son, Tyrique, and her 8-month-old daughter, Katelyn. Portia’s mother helped sometimes by keeping the children in the evening so Portia could spend more time looking for a job. After some hard work, she finally found a job in an elementary school cafeteria. She was initially hired on a temporary basis but was later hired as a permanent employee. Since Portia has been in our program, she has paid all of her outstanding bills and purchased a car. She has also completed her 10-key WAGE certificate and has taken a proactive stance to overcome educational barriers. Recently she became a mentee in Our House’s Women at Work program.