Society of Saint Vincent de Paul North Idaho
How St. Vincent de Paul Helped Me and My Family
By April Pellman
My name is April Pellman. I’m 31 years old and I started using drugs when I was 10 years old. I have two beautiful children, Phoenix who’s 12, and Makayla who’s 9.
In March of 2000, I moved from Wyoming to North Idaho with my boyfriend and our 5 children. We moved here to get away from the drugs. I stayed clean and sober for over a year and then I started using again. My drug use caused my boyfriend to leave. He took his 3 children and left me and my kids. I was homeless.
In June of 2003, I was able to get into St. Vincent’s Transitional Housing but was out by August of that same summer. I continued to use drugs and we found ourselves living in motels. On September 30, 2003, I was arrested. I bailed out and then my children were taken from me on October 3, 2003. The state took them because of the unstable living conditions. The state received custody of my kids on November 12, 2003 and it was only through supervised visitation that I was able to see them. I continued to use drugs and then I was sentenced and went to jail in February of 2004. I ended up doing a year in prison and got released in February of 2005.
When I got out, I had no place to go, no clothes, no money, no car, nothing! I ended up staying at the St. Pius Shelter. I got a job and once again, I was on the waiting list for St. Vincent’s Transitional Housing.
I began to see my kids on a regular basis and unsupervised. My case worker told me that once I found housing, the kids could come back to live with me. I stayed at the St. Pius shelter for 6 months and finally in August, I got my housing at St. Vincent’s Transitional Housing Center. My kids moved back in with me and everything got better; I thought the hardest part was over. I was wrong, it had just begun! I still didn’t have a vehicle and it was hard getting to work, getting the kids to school, and going shopping.
If it wasn’t for St. Vincent de Paul, I don’t think I would have come as far as I have. Living at the Transitional Housing Center was the best thing for my kids and me. After our not living together for almost two years and spending all of my adult life using drugs, this was a whole new experience. The staff and programs helped us so much. They helped me with budgeting, financing, parenting, and staying sober. Within 3 months, I had a car and money saved thanks to my case manager. I was also in the “Drug Court Program” at the time.
Finally, in February of 2006, I got my Idaho Housing Certificate! We found a 3-bedroom apartment at the end of March and moved in. I successfully graduated the program at St. Vincent’s Transitional Housing Center and the Drug Court Program in July of 2006.
I am so thankful for the staff and the program at St. Vincent’s! They do everything they can to help you become successful and self-sufficient. The program works if you really use it and want it to work. I am so thankful to St. Vincent’s that I stay in contact with them and even volunteer on the board.
I am now engaged and have a wonderful family. I am clean and sober and it’s such a great feeling. Thank you St. Vincent Transitional Housing Center for being there and helping me get to where I am now!!!