As a child Nishauna witnessed firsthand the impact of her mother’s substance use disorder. Her mother’s struggles brought them to Sojourner House in search of hope and stability. “Stability. Sojourner House means stability to me. It’s a safe space for change and a place for me to feel safe. Coming here at that age was crucial. My whole life would have been different without Sojourner House,” Nishauna said. For Nishauna, arriving at Sojourner House at such an impressionable age was the turning point for her that helped her break the generational cycles of substance use disorder and create a different life for herself. “I believe that I am still here because I am supposed to help others,” she said. Now as a social worker at age 36, she uses her experiences to help others on their … [Read more...] about Nishauna’s Story
Programs
Vanessa spent time with her son at both Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS putting in the work to overcome her substance use disorder and find the path she wanted for herself and her son. The programs gave her an amazing foundation and the confidence to go after what she wanted for her life. “I was at Sojourner House for 5-6 months and then MOMS for 5 years. Now, I own my own home,” she said. “If you stay with it, you really can do it.” Vanessa credits her time at Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS for everything she has today. “I met some amazing women here,” she said. “This place gave me a sense of peace that helped me prepare for whenever I got out of here.” “Life shows up,” Vanessa said about life after her time at Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS. … [Read more...] about Vanessa’s Story
Sam and her son are finding their path forward with the help of Sojourner House MOMS. The program has not only given her a safe place to stay as she works toward recovery, but it has also taught her many valuable skills and helped her build a bond with her son. One of the highlights of the program for Sam has been the life skills and personal finance classes she has been able to take to prepare her for life after the program. “They’ve taught me so much about where to put my money and how to manage it,” she said. “It’s helping me build confidence to know that I can do it.” Her time at Sojourner House MOMS has helped Sam learn what she wants for her future and the type of life she wants for herself and her son. She can finally envision a life without her substance use. “I relapsed … [Read more...] about Sam’s Story
Dear Friends of Sojourner House, One of the first objects that our clients, staff, volunteers, and guests see upon entering our building is a photo of great African-American preacher Sojourner Truth. As many of you know, our 29-year-old organization was named after Sojourner Truth who was nothing short of a heroine and a role model for all generations that have followed. Truth was born into slavery, but escaped to freedom in 1826. She gave herself the name Sojourner Truth in 1843 after she became convinced that God had called her to leave the city and go into the countryside "testifying the hope that was in her." During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit Black troops for the Union Army. An electrifying public speaker, Sojourner Truth committed her life to being a … [Read more...] about A Message For Social Justice
We asked three staff members at Sojourner House/MOMS how the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting their work and home lives. Matt Lewis, Director of Finance & Operations at Sojourner House Where did you grow up? "I was raised in Mars, PA." When did you start working at Sojourner House? "October 2017" What is your typical workday like during the COVID-19 crisis? "Lots of training and meetings, so, with the work that still needs to be done, it definitely makes for a longer work day!" Any proud moments or positive interactions during the crisis that you’d like to share? "Not necessarily a specific moment, but I hear about people in different positions within our organization stepping up in different ways, and I hear about SoHo and MOMS receiving assistance from people outside … [Read more...] about Meet Three Members of Our Amazing Staff