Single mom finds faith, hope and housing
By any measure, Lisa Velisek has been through a lot. A single mother to four kids, she has battled poverty, years of homelessness, domestic abuse, chemical dependency, and depression.
“It was all just, wow, totally overwhelming,” she said. After fleeing a bad relationship in northern Minnesota, Velisek and her children landed at The Salvation Army shelter in St. Cloud, Minn. “We bounced around a lot, sometimes staying with a friend, or in a shelter.”
Finally, Velisek says she grew “sick and tired of being sick and tired,” and pledged to make a better life for herself and her family.
“We prayed a lot, I made a promise to God and I was determined,” she explained. That’s when Velisek (pictured right) was introduced to Lindsey Glasser (pictured left) with The Salvation Army in Sherburne County. They worked together for weeks to help Velisek get into a housing program in a brand new apartment building in Elk River, Minn.
“Lisa was very determined to get housing,” Glasser said. “And it does take determination, when your credit and housing history are not great.”
And she says, it’s a true crisis in rural areas. “Out here, there are fewer properties that accept programs like Section 8, fewer landlords who are willing to take a chance on you,” Glasser explained.
Today, Velisek continues to work toward self-sufficiency. Her two older children are in college in Duluth, Minn. and her two teenage daughters finally have a home they can be proud of.
“Thanks to The Salvation Army and Lindsey, we have this lovely home and my girls even have their own rooms!” Velisek exclaimed.
This family is participating in one of The Salvation Army’s permanent-supportive housing programs across Minnesota and North Dakota, designed to help long-term and chronically homeless families. In Sherburne County, families and individuals live in townhouses and apartments and receive support from caseworkers, like Glasser. Funding for each living unit comes either from state programs, federal programs or private donors.
Please join The Salvation Army by volunteering or making a donation to support your local community.