When Elisia shares her experience with Bethlehem Inn, the first things she talks about are, “…catching your breath…getting your bearings.” Elisia, her kids, aged two to thirteen, and her husband Kevin were out of breath and money…and nearly out of hope when they found the Inn. They’d  been in Salem and came to Redmond to be near Kevin’s mom. They both found work.  They got a rental in Redmond. Then came a layoff which meant they couldn’t pay the rent or their bills. A painfully familiar story for so many folks who had never been without a place to live and suddenly were homeless.

The folks at St. Vincent de Paul in Redmond pointed them to Bethlehem Inn. Of the Inn staff, Elisia said, “They were very helpful, very kind.” There was housing guidance and help with school supplies for the kids. They were able to start saving money. Inn staff connected them with a FAN [Family Access Network] advocate who helped keep the kids in the school they’d been attending. Elisia adds, “We’re eighty per cent out of debt..we’re very optimistic.” Elisia, Kevin, and the kids are about to move into an apartment.

Amazing how major life transformations can start with things as basic as “…catching your breath…getting your bearings.”