The Power of Resilience: How One Family Transitioned from Homelessness
After spending months hopping from hotel to hotel, Elijah and Odessa Ragland arrived at The Salvation Army Center of Hope Shelter with their five children exhausted and frustrated.
“We went out every day to work to get money to stay in a hotel room,” said Elijah. “My kids never slept outside. I made sure of that. My wife made sure of that.”
The Ragland’s experienced a series of setbacks. Loss of one apartment, credit problems due to an identity theft issue, and an unexpected loss of another apartment.
“We woke up one morning the whole house was empty,” said Elijah. “The lady who we paid was evicted. We woke up to a sheriff’s deputy telling us to we had five minutes to get out. Luckily, we had a car.”
That’s when they went to a church looking for help.
“While we were upstairs washing our clothes, they called Child Protective Services,” explained Elijah. “We didn’t want our kids separated.”
Desperate, the Ragland’s sent their five children—6, 8, 9, 10 and 14 to Odessa’s sister in Virginia.
“She was only supposed to have them for a couple of months until we got on our feet,” said Odessa. “But then she tried to get permanent custody. I’ve been a mom since I was 15. I was keeping my kids.”
After sorting everything out with Child Protective Services and a family court judge, CPS purchased train tickets for the Ragland’s and their children to travel back to Raleigh.
“The Salvation Army had our beds ready that night,” said Odessa.
The Ragland’s admit a shelter isn’t where they wanted to be, but their family was together, and they were determined to move forward.
“The Salvation Army helped with everything possible you can think of,” said Elijah. “The Salvation Army was a blessing. They stuck with us and believed in us. At the end of the day, they saw the progress we were trying to make and they know we love our kids, and we love each other.”
“They didn’t give up on us,” added Odessa. “These people will push you, motivate you. These people will keep you uplifted even if you aren’t motivated yourself. They make sure you get done what you need to get done to move forward.”
This isn’t the first time Odessa had to make a big change in her life. A domestic violence survivor, she struggled long before Elijah came into her life. They met at InterAct, an organization that provides domestic violence and sexual assault services in Wake County.
“The kids saw the fighting. They saw her get hit,” said Elijah.
He stepped in and the two made a life together. Elijah says he proudly took on the role of dad for the kids.
“Those kids won’t let us give up. We can’t give up.”
Four months after arriving at the shelter, and with the help of Salvation Army caseworkers, the Ragland’s got the break they were hoping for.
“I couldn’t believe we were getting our own place,” smiled Elijah. “A four-bedroom house. I couldn’t stop smiling after I got off from work. I’m so ready, I’m going to be running like a plucked chicken!”
Asked what got them through everything their answer is simple—each other and the love they share for their children.
“This is a door that is opening up right now,” said Odessa. “Everything is falling into place.”
Elijah is working at a landscaping job and Odessa is getting ready to start her job at a daycare. Elijah believes everything that happened, happened for a reason.
“I tell people never give up. Don’t ever say you can’t do it. Keep the faith and always believe in the man upstairs. He’s always going to pull you through.”
“The Lord will never put more on you then you can handle,” added Odessa. “I hope our story will uplift someone.”