Heartland House Helps Re-Unite Family

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In 2002 Jen's life was nearing rock bottom when she voluntarily gave custody of her son to her mother. Some bad choices were catching up with her, and she realized that the life she was living wasn't conducive to raising a child. Fast-forward two years and Jen's introduction to Heartland House, a transitional living program for homeless families with children.

During Jen's interviews for admission into Heartland House, she was told that individuals with her history didn't have a very good success rate. Her response was "Let me be the first one." Her determination to succeed and the drive to change her life persuaded the staff to give her a chance.

Since that day, Jen has been a model resident at Heartland House, showing the staff that she is a changed person. Her children are the driving force in her change. Not long after her acceptance at Heartland House, her daughter was born. With the birth of her daughter and regaining custody of her son, she realized, "Benefiting myself is benefiting my children." She now works 25-30 hours per week takes care of her children and goes to college full-time to be a Medical Assistant. When she graduates from college she would like to work for a health care facility that will allow her to continue her education and become a Registered Nurse. Working, going to school, and raising two young children, as a single mom has been difficult, but the assistance and support she receives at Heartland House is helping her achieve her goals to become self-sufficient.

Jen will be graduating from the Heartland House program this year. She will be moving into an apartment with her children, and is looking forward to finishing school. The support Jen received from the Heartland House program helped change her life, and bring her family together.

Heartland House is a transitional living program for families with children operated by Inter-lakes Community Action. They provide housing and intensive case management services, and give families the opportunities to move from homelessness to permanent housing. Funding by Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) program provides assistance to the 35 homeless families in the program.

	Interlakes Community Action
	HUD's Homeless Assistance Programs
	Homeless assistance programs in South Dakota