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Hope House Resident Turning Things Around
She made a mistake. And according to her, she is paying
for it. But not without some assistance from Hope House
for the Homeless. Tiffany Laberdee was sexually abused
as a teenager, was a habitual user of marijuana at age
19 and hit rock bottom when she was arrested for drug
trafficking. Her arrest resulted in a five year sentence
of intensive probation with the possibility of an
11-month prison term if she violates it. But she is
turning things around thanks to a transitional homeless
shelter for women and children in Hancock County.
Laberdee is living with eight other women, some with
children, at Hope House. She and her housemates not only
cook their own meals and share cleaning duties, but they
also participate in job-training classes. This is the
first year for the United Way funded the Hope House
Independence Program which includes providing skills to
improve wages and benefits, budgeting techniques and
credit counseling with goal being that the resident will
move out of Hope House and into affordable housing.
Laberdee states that the facility's structured
environment helps her keep on track. She is able to
discuss her problems with staff members and other
residents, giving her hope for a better life. She claims
that her stay at Hope House is changing her for the
better by providing her with living skills and support.
"I am thankful for everything, for everybody at Hope
House, basically for giving me a chance and helping me
grow and become a more responsible citizen." says
Laberdee. Her future goals include getting her degree,
regaining custody of her three year old daughter and
opening her restaurant.
Hope House for the Homeless is open to homeless women
and their children whose family income is at or below 35
percent of the median income. For a family of four, the
income limit is $20,895 a year. Hope House residents can
stay in the facility for up to two years and must pay 35
percent of their net income - unless they have no
income, in which case the program is free. Hope House
Independence Program participants must pay 25 percent of
their net income.
Hope House for the Homeless is a
United Way Partner Agency |
