Hello Everyone!

It is National Elizabeth Fry Week this week!! As part of our celebration we will be sharing a few of our success stories each day. 

Here is the first one:

I first met E. in the summer of 2012 when she accessed our intake services as she wanted to make a call.  I noticed that she was pregnant so I gently inquired as to whether she had support and resources during her pregnancy.   She registered for the Health for Two Program which provides low income mothers with needed resources such as milk coupons, bus tickets and prenatal vitamins.  She further disclosed many things one of those being not having her basic needs met.  She was staying with an acquaintance that was taking advantage of her and was exploiting her.    

I provided her with information and resources as to what options were available to her.  She was drawn to an external life skills program within the community.  With letters of support in hand by the Elizabeth Fry Society and Native Counseling Services she was accepted into Elizabeth House immediately.  From there her strength and courage continued to grow and she really flourished. Through Elizabeth House she was referred to Bent Arrow; a housing first program where she now has her own apartment and has acquired additional supports.  She has worked hard and has started to address the many hardships she has endured in her life. 

I am delighted to say that she has been sober for over one year, has maintained her same apartment and is in the process of having her children returned to her full-time in September.  She has also been attending Yellowhead Tribal College and has been encouraged to transfer to the University of Alberta in September. 

I am also very pleased to share that we still keep in contact and she is still moving forward!

“When I came to Edmonton, the only support I had was you and now I have and now I have more good supports….”

Written by Shawna, our Community Resources Coordinator