Meet Michelle
Meet Michelle
During a recent Inspiration Tuesday – a standing meeting where members of the Project HOME community gather in person and virtually to hear uplifting reflections – Project HOME resident Michelle strode to the podium and shared a powerful untitled poem, which is included here.
Michelle’s voice and resolve are firmly her own. She was determined, and through Project HOME’s access to permanent supportive housing, employment opportunities, medical care, and education – that you make possible – Michelle came HOME in 2019.
Prior to joining Project HOME’s Gloria Casarez Residence (GCR) community, Michelle had experienced periods of living in foster care and, after she turned 18, a women’s shelter in North Philadelphia’s Tioga-Nicetown neighborhood. Michelle’s struggle to find affordable housing exacted a significant toll.
“Every time I moved, my poetry – binders of poems – would be lost,” Michelle shares.
“When I opened the door to my apartment for the first time, it was a ‘wow’ moment.”
As she approaches her third year at Project HOME, Michelle is grateful to be able to take advantage of all the resources available to her. She is practicing self-care, developing her skills as a resident leader, and even giving back as a volunteer in the digital music production studio at the Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs. “Logic Pro is an amazing tool – it is great to see students learning how to use the music production tools as a way to advance and develop themselves,” says Michelle.
In both Michelle’s poem and in her day-to-day life, the strides she continues to make all tie back to permanent supportive housing.
“When I opened the door to my apartment for the first time, it was a ‘wow’ moment,” Michelle reflects. “There is a sense of ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’ But getting in here with Project HOME is the best step you can take. It opens doors to new resources and helps you get beyond housing insecurity.”
Michelle's Poem
As Time slows down
I take a
deep breath in
as I look around
all I can
say is
I'm home
As the keys
are handed to
me and
they say
it's all yours
I smile
As I will leave all
I can think is
I know that when I get back
everything will be right
where I left it
as a smile
starts my day
it will end it.
Your continued generosity today will help the next wave of ‘Wow’ moments like Michelle’s possible tomorrow.
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Your Impact in Fiscal Year 2022
Housing
- 1,157 residents across Project HOME
- 98 percent of young adults (like Michelle and Donnell) remain in stable housing after one-year
Opportunities for Employment
- 264 adult learners participating in Project HOME’s Adult Education and Employment Department programs
- 114 residents (up 40 percent over FY21) enrolled in post-secondary, GED, and/or professional certificate programs designed to lead to competitive employment
Medical Care
- 18,458 medical visits to the Stephen Klein Wellness Center
- 4,063 Unduplicated patients
- 4,139 dental visits
Education
- 130 students enrolled in K-12 College Access programs
- 100 percent of seniors in the Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs programs graduated high school
- 88 percent enrolled in post-secondary programs
