CLEVELAND — Cleveland has one of the highest poverty levels in the country, especially, among the most vulnerable: children.
The need is greater than ever to help with homelessness. That's why The City Mission and its women and children's shelter, Laura's Home, serve more than 1,100 people a year.
At Laura's Home, it's all about individualized care. Residents stay nine to 12 months at the long-term shelter so they're ready for a fresh start when they leave.
When you walk in any room here, you feel hope. Laura's Home provides schooling, child care, and prayer — a path to a new life.
"Whether it's homelessness or a severe crisis, they have that gift of time to really look at those underlying [things] and get to the root cause of what is happening in their life," City Mission CEO Linda Uveges said.
Linda has deep roots in Laura's Home, having started volunteering here 19 years ago. At the time, she was a stay-at-home mom to five children.
"When I think of a homeless shelter, I kind of think of something dark, bunk beds everywhere ... not a lot of hope," she admitted. "But when I came here to Laura's Home to tour, I'm like, 'Oh my goodness, this is beautiful.'"
It was beautiful, but there was more: It was a place where women struggling with addiction or trauma were shown grace, dignity, and love.
Inside the walls of Laura's Home, Linda has done every job there is. She says none were more meaningful than that of her time at the front desk, were she greeted the women and children who were brave enough to come in for help.
"You're the first person that people who are seeking help [get to see]," she explained. "You get to treat them with love and care [and] compassion."
It's that kind of compassion that helps even the most troubled residents get through the hard work to make it on the other side.
"We're healing, me and my kids are healing," resident Tahirah Gaines told us. "I thank God. I was crying. I was happy, you know? My kids are stable ... because that means a lot to me, to be stable. And school is right up the street ... they got them in school here. They did that here."
It's the life Tahirah has always wanted for her kids. She and her two boys got here two months ago, and she's been sober ever since. It's a structure they never had.
"It's been really nice, peaceful, comfortable," she said. "We've got our own room, bathroom. [We're] comfortable. It's enough beds for the kids ... more than enough beds, and it's just wonderful."
Tahirah has big dreams for herself, too. At Laura's Home, she knows it's never too late, and that's because a familiar face paved the way.
"I was almost 50," Linda recalled, "and I had to go to school."
Years into her service at Laura's Home, Uveges was asked to be manager. First, she'd need a college degree.
"I was scared to death," she said, "because I'm thinking, 'How can I do this? I've been out of high school for 25 years.'"
Time away from her studying didn't matter. Linda earned her bachelor's degree in nonprofit and administration from Cleveland State University. It wasn't enough.
"I wanna get my master's degree next," she recalled. "I talked to our CEO, and he says, 'That's great. I would like you to be the chief operating officer.'
"Six years as the chief operating officer of the City Mission, then last year our CEO retired, and now I am the CEO."
And her story is a message of triumph she's proud to share.
"I cannot tell you how many women have said, 'Because of your story, I'm going back to school,'" she said.
Tahirah Gaines knows that all too well.
"I want my hard hat for women," she declared. "I want to do construction. They just give you the courage. It's a lifetime gift."
A gift not just for those who come and stay awhile, but also for those who find that life called them here.
"I think of and try to imagine that you get up every day and that you are going to impact somebody's life," Linda said. "It just doesn't get any better than that."
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