Family Moves On After Months of Homelessness

A woman from Grand Rapids said the experience of being homeless for months may have brought her and her children even closer together.

Ariana, John-David, and their mother Johnnetta Blockman are from Mississippi.  Blockman’s fiancé, originally from Grand Rapids, suggested moving to Michigan in February.

“That’s what really caught my eye was the school system and they have so many things up here for children,” said Blockman.

 She got a job quick.  It just wasn’t enough to cover the bills.

 The family stayed at a hotel for a few weeks, but had trouble getting state assistance.  The Salvation Army’s Housing Assessment Program put them up in a shelter for a month… she said it was something she never wanted to do.

 “It’s OK if you’re an adult, you’re by yourself, you can pretty much go here and there, but if you have children, you really have to think.”

 Blockman said her kids are mature and smart.  But it’s never easy telling them, “We’re homeless.”

“They’re like, ‘Mom what’s going on?’ And I say ‘Well, we just hit some bad times, we lost our house, but we still have somewhere to go,’” said Blockman.

Eventually Blockman connected with Family Promise, a group that specializes in finding families sustainable housing.

They have a day center, which is like an apartment that families share during the day.  In the evening, families stay at a host site, such as a church, where they eat dinner and sleep.

Director Cheryl Schuch said it’s vital that families stay together during times of crisis like homelessness.

 “One of the things we feel is really important when a family has a crisis like a housing crisis or becomes homeless is that they have their family to draw strength from,” said Schuch.  “The relationship within their family is what we all rely on when times get tough.”

 A landlord who works with Family Promise helped get the Blockmans in a new home this fall after three months.  Grant money helped with a deposit.  They also receive assistance through the Department of Human Services.