This is the time of year when many people are turning their attention to children heading back to school. As the president and CEO of House of Ruth, a D.C. non-profit that supports women, children, and families, I know that back-to-school efforts are essential not just for kids, but also for parents — many of whom never had the opportunity to complete school themselves.
We empower people to rebuild their lives and heal from trauma, abuse, and homelessness. As a part of that work, we spend much of our energy on education, because education is crucial to our clients’ securing work, earning an income to support their families, and finding success in life—and domestic violence can put all of this on hold.
We help our clients create their own plan when they first move to House of Ruth. Then we meet with them, weekly or more often, to help them achieve their education goals. This can include completing a GED, or earning an associate or a bachelor’s degree, or learning how to manage money or a household. We partner with the Washington D.C. YWCA financial literacy class, teaching our clients everything from how to open a bank account to managing their money. We are proud of how many clients leave us earning money in a job or earning more than when they started.
When I was in my second year as leader at House of Ruth, in 2016, a news program featured one of our clients for Mother’s Day: A woman who went to culinary school while living with us and then got a job working in the White House. We also encourage our women clients to think outside of “women’s work” and apply for well-paid jobs in construction, as we have had clients hired in jobs working in male-dominated fields.
Here’s a story about how our focus on education is helping a mom and a daughter finish school. Before they came to House of Ruth, Kristina and her daughters were homeless and living in a shelter in a hotel in D.C. They had a long commute from the shelter to the girls’ school. Kristina’s abuser kept showing up during the commute and threatening them. Kristina would contact the police and let them know she had a restraining order, but he kept appearing. The danger and fear continued until they found us.
Two years ago, Kristina and her daughters moved into our supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence. With newfound security and a true support system through our staff, Kristina was able to ground herself and begin to pursue education and training that will set her up for long-term independence. As of today, Kristina has already earned a medical assistant certification and a medical office administration certification, and she is finishing up the requirements to earn an electronic medical records certification. She is proud of these significant accomplishments and is looking forward to beginning a career in the healthcare industry.
Both of Kristina’s daughters are now thriving. Her oldest daughter Mia* is a senior in high school. She is a thoughtful, accomplished young woman who recently wrote an excellent essay on the struggles and challenges of going through homelessness while in school. Mia has a strong grade-point average, and her hard work has truly paid off. She was accepted into eight different colleges, and recently made the decision to attend a local university.
Kristina says House of Ruth has helped her “be able to be the best me that I can be for myself and for my children.” Going back to school was never an option for her before. She and her girls went from being terrified daily to feeling safe and secure. Unlike their previous temporary shelter in a hotel room, the apartment at House of Ruth gave them a safe space to live normally and create a home. Kristina says “being able to live, and to live safely, has just been awesome.” She says the support system they have now makes her feel like the sky is the limit.
And there is so much to be excited about and look forward to as Mia approaches her high school graduation and makes plans for college.
As many of us know, school doesn’t end when you complete your final degree. Life is an education — every day — and House of Ruth is a proud partner with the clients we serve.
*name changed to protect privacy.
Sandra Jackson, MSW, LICSW, LCSW-C, is president and CEO of the House of Ruth.
