Lurena
From the priority area Basic Needs

After years of abuse as a child and then as an adult, Lurena found herself lost in depression, unable to identify with any successes in her life and misunderstood by family members. Confronted with being homeless but wanting desperately to be strong for her daughter, the two found their way to Covenant Shelter where they were safe.

Lurena participated in the programs provided by Covenant Shelter including a training program given by the Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut. During this weekly training Lurena realized the full magnitude of the domestic violence and abuse she had endured over the years. "It became my full-time job to get past my stuff and get my life in order," she says.

After her stay at Covenant Shelter, Lurena and her daughter were accepted into the Thames River Family Program (TRFP). The program is a supportive community for formerly homeless families headed by single mothers. Residents gain more control over their lives as they move from public assistance to self-sufficiency and independence. The program provides family and child advocacy, budgeting training, crisis intervention, and life skills training in parenting, personal growth, employment, family health, and home management.

"I fell in love with the concept of the program," Lurena says. "I could see the end of the rainbow but my depression held me captive for so long that I did not think I could transform inside." As she took advantage of the services and counseling at TRFP, Lurena learned to trust the program and worked harder towards recovery. She met regularly with her advocate and "took all the trainings and meetings very seriously," she says. "I chased down every lead."

"Because Lurena's self-esteem and confidence were so low," says Kathy Allen at TRFP, "she was not able to be the strong parent for her daughter she wanted to be." But with her newfound inner strength, Lurena is parenting her daughter the positive way she envisioned. And she created a support system within the community called "Save Our Sister," where residents can post a note on the information board when they need support during a particularly rough time.

Lurena went through many life and career choices and found a true passion for advocacy. She became "empowered to speak her mind without being intimidated," says Kathy. She created a job title for herself as a Community Resource Coordinator and talked her way into a job at a community center. From there she found a new position as a Youth Development Specialist at the Girl Scouts.

Thames River Family Program encourages families who choose to shape a better life by promoting family wellness and enabling them to eventually leave the program with an achievable plan for successful independent living. "I am that purpose personified," Lurena believes.

Thames River Family Program, a program of Thames River Community Service, the Women's Center, and Covenant Shelter are all United Way partner programs and helped to form a network of services for Lurena and her daughter.