"My name is Carrie Taylor. This is my story about how I became homeless with two children and my struggle to get back on top.

In July 2006, I lost my job as a waitress when the business was closed. I desperately tried to find work, but was unsuccessful. In September 2006, my bank account was completely drained. Everything was gone. A friend let my 6-month old daughter and me stay with her. I continued to look for work but no one would hire me being 6 months pregnant.

In February 2007, my son was born. Now there are 4 people living in a tiny 1-bedroom apartment. I couldn't handle it. There was no room for my daughter to play so I finally decided it was time to get some help.

I started calling shelters and finally found one with room. I stayed at Interfaith Hospitality Network for 2 1/2 weeks. That was the most difficult 2 1/2 weeks of my life. Every day we had to be on the bus at 6:00am to leave the church where we stayed to go to the center where they worked on your case. The kids could never leave your side. Everything you owned was in a locker. It was very scary.

After a short time, throught the help of CILO. I was able to get an apartment of my own at the Tom Geiger Guest House. It was great having a safe place to call home again.

After a while, I went back to school. I got a degree in Phlebotomy. I now work at Children's Hospital drawing samples. It's great! It's not the best part though. I can now afford to rent and I'm soon moving to a house where I will stay with the kids.

I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity the Tom Geiger Guest house gave me to get back on my feet.

So this is my advice to all of you women out there. Life is hard and very unfair sometimes. Just keep praying to God for help. Stay strong and patient; something great will happen. Work your program, save every penny and things will turn out great."

~ Carrie Taylor, as published in Tom Geiger Guest House Newsletter Spring 2008

A Life Saved

"When I got to Geiger House, I was almost non-functional. I couldn't understand people talking to me. I could read a book but I couldn't assimilate a lot of what was on the page. I had no comprehension. I felt like all of the knowledge I had in my life and in my working life was gone. It was a real struggle for me just to survive day to day.

Winter rolled into spring. I got a little part-time job and felt like a number of reasons I was unable to work at it, so I left it and went to the YMCA to the Women's Work Program. I stayed there for four weeks and completed that program. While I was there, I found out about the Super Jobs Program, the Workforce Investment Act, which has federal funding for people like me that can put us back through school or training and put us on our feet. In the meantime, I got another job that I could work at and I kept looking into going to the school.

In the meantime, I got another job, which I'm still working at. I went to CNA School in August and I graduated with a 96, and that's not bad for somebody who didn't know what day of the week it was last fall. I took my state test and graduated with a 97. I am still working part time. I work in the mornings, and in the afternoons I am going to start out job hunting. I am going to get a job in a nursing home, which will re-acclimate me to the nursing environment so that in time I will be able to regain a position as a nurse and be a complete, productive member of society.

I am poised today on the threshold of a whole new life, of being a capable, competent person, a woman as well as a nurse, independent and forever free from abuse.

So never think that the work you do here is not important. Never let yourself get overwhelmed. Never let yourself think that in the end it really doesn't matter because it matters in extreme ways that you do not know about. Your time and your donations are what is making it possible for someone like me, who started out as a barely functioning person, to wind up the competent, capable human being that I am today. And I still have a ways to go.

I want to thank you for myself because of the difference the Tom Geiger House has made in my life. Being a client of the Geiger House has given me my life back. And that is something that no amount of money could buy. But most of all, I want to thank you for the hundreds of women and children who have come through the Geiger House before me. And sadly, for the thousands who will come after me."