In 2013 Rudy and Marlyne were both pretty much out of options.
Marlyne and her two children, aged five and six, had been chronically homeless for several years. The Florida family had stayed in shelters, in family housing programs,and with friends, but Marlyne had never been able to get long-term housing assistance, and these short term programs didn't give her enough time or resources to stabilize her situation.
Rudy, her brother, had recently lost his job and was also facing homelessness.
They had friends up in Salisbury, NC, who had encouraged them to come to north. The friends said there were job opportunities and affordable housing to be had in North Carolina, and offered to let them stay with them while they got situated.
So the two decided to team up, and take a chance. Marlyne left her children with their father, who at the time saw the kids perhaps once a year. She hoped that they could join her in North Carolina in a few months, maybe even before school started. They bought a bus ticket, and headed for North Carolina.
When they arrived though, the story changed. The friends couldn't take them in after all. It was a hot July day, and they were sitting at the bus station with all their luggage, hundreds of miles from home and the children, trying to figure out what to do. They had $20 between them, and spent $10 of it on cab fare to get to a homeless shelter.
Rudy and Marlyne spent about six weeks at the shelter. "We couldn't leave our belongings there during the day, so each morning we had to leave with all our things," says Marlyne. "You look the part [of a homeless person] carrying all your stuff, hot and sweating every day."
Over the next several months Rudy and Marlyne stayed at a church, in motels, in shelters, and eventually in a van they were able to purchase. They would drive to a park that had showers to clean up. They learned the good places to park for the night: "back in to a spot in the parking garage of a nice hotel," advises Rudy, "there's security and no one will mess with you."
The daily worry was debilitating: "we worried we would lose the car, we worried about money for gas. We needed to keep as much money as possible to keep the car and get places, so we didn't have much money for food. We were hungry," says Marlyne.
Both suffered significant health problems during this time due to their living environment. Marlyne got a good job at a call center, and worked for several weeks even though she was in agonizing daily pain. Eventually she was hospitalized for 30 days, and lost her job.
Then they got connected with Community Link.
Their caseworker helped them find an apartment, which, because Marlyne had a prior eviction, was not as easy as it might sound. They were finally able to move in on December 23, 2014.
"We had blankets on the floor, and our Welcome Basket of donated household items, and that's it," says Rudy. But they were so grateful and happy. "All we wanted was to be in our new home," says Marlyne. "That was our Christmas gift."
A year later, and it's a much different picture. Rudy and Marlyne have started a home-based customer service business, and have connected to other resources through their Community Link caseworker. Their health has improved. They are well-positioned to maintain housing stability on their own.
Marlyne's children, now aged 9 and 10, have reunited with their mother, and, for maybe the first time in their lives, are stably housed. The two eagerly show off their Honor Roll certificates for earning straight 'A's this semester. They are excitedly looking forward to Christmas in their new home.
"If it weren't for the Grace of God and Community Link, we wouldn't be here," says Marlyne.
Don't be afraid to dream.
Rudy and Marlyne share their story hoping it will inspire someone else who is facing similar circumstances.
"I want them to know you can come back from homelessness," says Rudy. "I want to tell them don't be afraid to dream."
Marlyne adds, "We dreamed when we were sleeping on the ground. We dreamed in the hot car. Don't let your mind be homeless."