Shannon stayed at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville’s Domestic Violence Transitional Housing in 2022. We helped her secure a housing voucher for an apartment, and she hopes to purchase her own home in the near future. We sat down with Shannon to hear her story.
How did you end up at our Domestic Violence Transitional Housing?
I was assaulted by my offender and it was his second offense. I had filed an EPO (emergency protective order). He was taken to jail. They put him out of the house for 30 days. While he was out of the house, I called the Coalition for the Homeless, and they set up an interview. Then somebody called me from Transitional Housing. The next thing I know, we went to court May 31, and I had a bed June 3. So I was so thankful, so thankful.
What was your experience like at SVDP?
I cannot speak highly enough of it. I really cannot. They give you the freedom to make the choices that you need to better yourself. They’ll give you a bus pass so you have transportation to go wherever you need to go. There’s a case manager. There are people working the desk that are just there to be supportive and talk to when you need them—morning, noon, and night. Then, there’s a director. You can go to her and she will take care of any problem that’s going on … And the place was just amazing. You get your own room. You have a little refrigerator to keep your own stuff in it. The beds are comfortable, and they give you a new blanket, two pillows. If you need to go to the Women’s Clothes Closet, you can do that. Then, the Food Pantry is on Tuesday and Thursday. You can only go once a week, but you get everything you need to care for yourself. The kitchen is right there for you to cook in yourself, and you clean up after yourself.
Do you think it would’ve been possible without SVDP’s help?
No. No. I’ve been an addict for a long time—about seven years—and I’ve been to recovery and rehab and all that. But the truth is, if they lock you in somewhere you have to do what’s right. But here, they don’t do that. They don’t lock you in. You have the freedom to make the choices that you need to make to get yourself back. And that’s what happened when I was here. I took myself back, and I couldn’t have done that without the love and support that I found here … St. Vincent de Paul does an awful lot that people really don’t know about.
What was it like to know you were safe?
A gift from heaven. It really was. They don’t let anybody in that door, nobody … And it was just nice to know that I could be somewhere and not worry about somebody coming up and doing something crazy to me. I’m so thankful for this place. And without it, I couldn’t be who I am now. This has been a beautiful thing, an absolutely beautiful thing. I love butterflies. I’m all about metamorphosis and change. I felt like this place was my cocoon. I really did.
Leave a Reply