Finding a home is one of the main goals for many of the women at St. Gianna’s Women’s Home as they prepare to rebuild their lives. But what should be an exciting next step often becomes a source of frustration and discouragement.
“This is really starting to feel impossible.”
That was the text message I received from one of our Gianna’s residents after she had been denied multiple apartment applications. Her journey to finding her “next place” began in June, when she received her housing voucher. It took nearly four months, 35 applications, and a significant amount of money spent on application fees before she finally found a place to call home.
Throughout her time at Gianna’s, this resident had excelled in our program and completed multiple programs through community agencies. She had taken the necessary steps to move forward. Yet one thing continued to stand in her way: a felony conviction from 2018.
At Gianna’s, we provide transitional housing and help women secure a place to live as they prepare to move forward independently. But, just like the previous example, the process is not always easy. Too often, it becomes a discouraging reminder of the challenges these women continue to face.
A low credit score resulting from past financial hardship, an eviction connected to domestic violence, or a criminal conviction from years ago—these are just some of the reasons our women are denied housing. Even after taking steps to rebuild their lives, the barriers of their past can make it difficult to move forward.
At Gianna’s, we do our best to walk alongside our residents through this transition. Our staff writes letters of recommendation, accompanies them to meet with potential landlords when possible, and advocates for opportunities. And, of course, we pray, trusting in the Lord’s timing even when the road ahead feels uncertain.
Many of the women who come to Gianna’s have spent years in survival mode. Here, they find peace and a place where they can feel safe, experience love, and begin rebuilding their lives. Our hope is that they can carry that same sense of peace with them when they leave our program.
We believe that every woman deserves the opportunity to move forward with dignity and a place to call home. As we trust the Lord’s timing, we also believe that He can work through people willing to open doors for our ladies. Our goal for next year is to find more landlords who will join us in this mission and who are willing to give them the opportunity they need.
If you can help us in our mission to find "a next place" for our program graduates, please reach out via our contact form.
