How a Mother of Five Received Help When She Needed It The Most
Shaina Little faced hardships no mother should have to encounter: housing insecurity.
As a single mother of five, Little always worked hard to make sure her children had a roof over their heads and food on the table, but moving from one place to another was far from easy.
The children often changed schools, and enrollment was not easy because their ages ranged from 3 to 18. Little was often left to watch the youngest because she could not afford daycare, which impacted her ability to work. The money she did make was just enough for her family to get by. There was no extra money for emergencies and no family in town to help. Little was left to juggle everything on her own.
“It was a lot,” said Little.
There was a constant rush of worries flowing through her mind.
‘How are you going to feed your kids?’
‘How are you going to pay for the hotel?’
‘Is your check going to come in time?’
Little was tired of trying to figure it out all on her own, so she put her pride aside and turned to The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte. Little and her family moved into The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope women and children shelter, where they had a stable place to lay their heads and where three meals a day were served.
“It was a very humbling moment, but a grateful moment at the same time,” she said. “We had a roof over our head, were being fed, and were able to bathe. I was able to have a little peace of mind with my kids.”
While at the shelter, Little was paired with social workers, Maria Gibbs-Deberry and Shamecca Davis, who helped her secure a job, reach her financial goals and ultimately get her back on her feet.
“I appreciate that they go above and beyond,” she said. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to meet some of the goals I have met today.”
Now, Little and her family live in the Hampton Creste Apartments through the Supportive Housing Innovative Partnership (SHIP) program of The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte. With the help of her social worker, she found affordable childcare for her youngest so she could return to school, something Little had talked about doing for years. She’s earned her
electrocardiogram technician (EKG) certification and plans to take classes to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). Her oldest child, now a high school graduate, is following in their mother's footsteps, entering the medical field as well.
Little wants to set the example for her children by showing them that anything is possible once you put your mind to it. What keeps her motivated? She says hearing her kids say, ‘Mom, I’m proud of you.’
“The Salvation Army gave me and my kids a place to stay and helped us out,” she said. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I would have been right now.”
You can support our mission to help every mother, like Little, by giving today. A generous donation provides hot meals, assistance programs and a warm place to stay for women and children experiencing homelessness in the Charlotte area.