Sloan Garden Party - June 24th, 2010

The healing garden donated from the Trione family was completed so we had an open house. Thank you so much Mr. and Mrs.Trione! Bev Yarbrough was acknowleged for her long time support. We now have a bench and a hanging rock in honor of her in the lovely garden. Her ladies group was there to join her. Past clients of Sloan house spoke about their experiences while living there. Current clients joined us for the event. Janal Cruz was in attendance as the shelter was named after her grandmother Eddie Mae Sloan. Cheryl Traendly took these wonderful photos. Sloan Angels Linda Gilbert, Kathy Fogleman and Kaye Henzerling provided the food. Oscar Chavez, Molly Ackley Lynea Syberlich and Hazel Whiteoak from Community Action Partnership were also in attendance along with board members Pat Kuta and Karen Erickson. The afternoon was enjoyed by all as they toured the shelter and read all the letters from the women.

Residents of the Sloan House have needs. If you are able to help them with one or two items, or would like to make a donation to the sloan house, please fill out the contact form above, or call Melody at (707) 535-8765.

The following are accounts of Sloan House success stories:

"Jane entered the shelter after being hospitalized for life-threatening health problems. She had been formerly been working at in a high-paced office setting, owned her own home, and loved to spend her free time working out. Due to these health problems, she had lost her job, her house, her car, and found herself without a support system to help her get well. The Sloan House shelter gave her a safe place to stay as she participated in a support group at a local drop-in center for homeless women, attended weekly medical appointments, and began the process of regaining her health. With help and encouragement, she was able to sign up for retirement benefits, and access a local program to help her pay her first month of rent and deposit. She was able to move from the shelter into a room for rent, where she will be able to continue to heal and maintain the new supportive connections she has made in her community."

- Lynea S.

Shelter Supervisor and Wellness Case Manager

"Hello, my name is Eve and I was a resident of the Sloan Women's Shelter and an active participant in their "Wellness Program" for seven months in 2009. For most of my adult life I have been a single mom and successfully provided a home for myself and my children. Due to a financial breakdown in my life 15 years ago I found myself, my children, and my grandchildren homeless for the first time. I haven to homeless shelters off and on since 1999.

No matter how hard I worked to save money and do the things I needed to get "my feet back on the ground" regarding improving my homeless situation, something always happened and my circumstances failed and I found myself starting over again... repeating the vicious cycle of homelessness that so many others are now experiencing.

In February 2009, I entered the Sloan Women's Shelter and decided to do the best I could with the tools and resources offered me through the Wellness Program. I set and followed through with goals regarding my health, income, recovery, and housing with the guidance of my case manager. To improve my knowledge and management of finances, I completed the Rent Up program and financial fitness workshops through Community Action Partnership. The topics of these workshops are Rental Agreements, Landlord-Tenant relationships, and Financial Literacy. In conjunction with these workshops I was able to create long term budgeting and saving goals in preparation to succeed as a tenant.

The Sloan Women's Shelter and their "Wellness Program" which I completed at the end of August 2009, provided the "missing link" to what I needed to overcome homelessness. Without the support and integrity of the wonderful staff and case management there, as well as the education I received by participating in the workshops provided, I would not have gained the courage and self-confidence to apply and be approved for my own brand new apartment which I moved into the first of September 2009. I love my beautiful new place and I know I will be happy there for many years!! It is so hard to believe it's real, but even more difficult to believe is the complete peace of mind I found through doing this program."

Thanks to all of you, here are just some of the items we have provided to all of our women in the shelter.

• Microsoft Word & textbooks for our college clients
• Construction boots and socks for a new job
• Therapy sessions when our client lost her job due to health issues
• Dressers custom made to fit our rooms
• Professional clothing
• Sheets, mattress pads and towels
• Personal items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions and soaps
• Wonderful Holiday meals
• Christmas gifts and stockings full of goodies
• Furniture and kitchen needs when our clients transition out of the shelter to their new home
• Food items: eggs, cheese, milk, coffee, sugar, fruits, vegetables etc.