Vanessa is the first to admit she’s made some serious mistakes. A lifelong addict who “ran the streets,” sold drugs and neglected her son, she served prison time for writing bad checks.
None of that matters much anymore. At 46, Vanessa has peace of mind she’d never known before moving to the campus of St. Vincent de Paul. Last March she was one of the first tenants in SVDP’s new SRO (single-resident occupancy) supportive housing program for homeless single women. The three-story apartment building features 24 private bedrooms and shared common areas, including kitchen, bathrooms and living room.
“It’s a really nice place to be,” Vanessa says. “I like that I have my own room – that it’s mine, that I have a lease, and that I have my own key. There’s quiet time,and everybody respects everybody.”