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“You work with them to get the things that they need to sustain them.”
- Aalia Robinson
robbed. It also provides a level of comfort that so many are missing in their daily lives.
“It’s a safe haven for most of the women who visit our facility,” says Aalia Robinson, the shelter director. “It makes them feel safe.” UNIQUE COMFORT Real House staff members work with women in the shelters to nd permanent housing as quickly as possible, but during their stay, staff make sure all of their needs are met. Both women’s shelters are located in converted homes that give off a warm and inviting feeling. There are some single rooms, and no rooms exceed three beds. The shelters recently got all new orthopedic foam mattresses, and the homes feature TVs and comfortably furnished living rooms to make clients feel at home. Robinson says women will often gather to watch TV or movies, and she says a true community forms amongst the group. “We try to make it like a family feel in our facility,” Robinson says. “Most of the ladies cook together, so it’s not like you’re alone.” Beyond the comfortable facilities, another hallmark of the shelters is that they allow women to leave their things or remain in the shelter throughout the day. Many other shelters in the area require clients to leave during the day, making Real House’s program unique. Being able to
“It’s a sense of, ‘I have a home I can come back to,’” Robinson says. “I have a place where I can store my things and not really look over my shoulder.” CARING COMMUNITY
Robinson says when she sits down and talks to the women in the shelter, they are extremely grateful, and that gratitude is re ected in the staff who take joy from helping others. “It makes you feel awesome,” Robinson says. “It really gives a sense of being needed, or just a feeling of being helpful, being someone other people can look up to.” In working with women at the shelters, Real House staff seek to address other needs besides housing, offering information about substance abuse treatment, domestic violence, or anything else clients may need to get their lives back on track. But for all the different services that Real House provides, Robinson says the goal of the shelter program is as simple and as vital as they come. “You work with them to get the things that they need to sustain them,” Robinson says. “It’s just trying to get people off the street.”
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leave belongings in a secure place frees women up to search for jobs or make medical appointments without fear of being
“It’s a safe haven for most of the women who visit our facility.” - Aalia Robinson, shelter director, Real House Inc.
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