MAJEAN'S STORY
Poverty is hereditary. Children who live in poverty for half their lives are 32 times more likely to remain in poverty. Among the world’s 35 wealthiest countries, the U.S. has the second highest child poverty rate. It is for that reason The Salvation Army is working hard at breaking the chains of intergenerational poverty.
The Salvation Army of Houston is a change agent, they offer hope to the hopeless and second chances to all. Meet Mejean. When asked what brought her to The Salvation Army she states, “My family basically lost everything, my husband lost his job, we couldn’t pay the bills, I got hit by a car, and we were going to lose the apt.” She continues, “we had been living without power for a month. So, I googled family shelters.” With nowhere else to turn, Mejean brought her husband and two children, seven and ten years old, to The Salvation Army Family Shelter.
Mejean shares, “We were not good people or good parents. Good people and good parents don’t let their children become homeless. Everything we did at that time felt wrong. We officially had nothing.” But that wasn’t for long. Mejean was led to the right place.
“Once we checked in, they asked me about our health. They asked if the kids needed shots. They gave me bus fare and made sure that the kids had a ride to school too.” Mejean felt relief. She and her family had the care they needed. Mejean and her family began to have hope.
The Salvation Army worked with Mejean and her family to better understand her previous choices. She shared, “I had to look at budgeting, and look at the way we were eating, and how we can change taking care of us.” With classes to learn better habits and care, Mejean and her family were on their way to self-sufficiency. The Salvation Army helped her husband find a job and family housing.
After leaving the shelter and having a stable income, Mejean’s husband encouraged her to go back to school. She was scared and shared, “God pushed me towards going back to school. Then I graduated and I got this amazing job. I now work at NASA!” Mejean is so thankful for The Salvation Army. “If I didn’t have the Salvation Army, I wouldn’t have been forced to make a change and I think my family would have circled back to where we came.” Mejean is now full of hope and proud of the life she is living thanks to the second chance The Salvation Army of Houston provided her and her family.
The Salvation Army continues to meet families like Mejean’s and needs your continued support. Please join in this fight for good by donating today.