Monica’s Story
After an attempt to relocate to Austin, TX, a series of unfortunate events caused Monica and her family to lose almost everything in just a few weeks.
These misfortunes were part of “a trying three years”, beginning with the pandemic. When COVID-19 changed the world as we knew it, Monica’s changed along with it, as she was laid off and had to move back in with her mother to help her recover from spinal stenosis. Being home during that time was very difficult for her, as the impacts from COVID-19 not only resulted in three generations living under the same roof, but also caused some mental health issues in Monica’s family to surface.
“My sister lost her mind and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. We didn’t know until about 9 months after my mom brought her into the home… It started with her going into my kids rooms, taking their clothes, and throwing them away… Me having to go to the bathroom with her because she thinks she’s about to die, that we’re gonna die… Staying up late at night and having to deal with all of those reactions. It was just really extremely mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting.”
Monica knew she needed to make a change for both her and her children's well-being, so after the lockdowns ended, she went back to work, started a side hustle, and made plans to relocate her family to Austin, TX. She had even met the love of her life.
After saving to purchase a new vehicle and securing an apartment lease, Monica, her boyfriend, and children relocated to Austin, TX. “I wanted to be able to start fresh... I wanted my kids to be able to see and experience something different. I want our minds to be open to more things… I got my U-Haul and we moved to Austin, Texas. We were excited.”
Everything seemed to be looking up for Monica and her family… Until they arrived in Austin and discovered their apartment was fraudulent. They not only lost a lot of money but found themselves without a roof over their head in the process. They were homeless.
"I started Ubering all day long… 8am - to midnight just to make enough money to feed my kids. We would go to a Pilot station, shower, sleep in a car, and do it all over again the next day... We finally made enough to rent a hotel room for three days… but then the car got stolen from the hotel. The only thing I had with me was my license, and things we brought in with us… After we checked out of the hotel, we got a lift to the airport. I tried to rent a vehicle through my Uber. We ended up sleeping in the airport for two nights… Thankfully, the third day, someone we met in Austin drove to us and helped us get enough money to get a rental to go back to Myrtle Beach… All of our things were in storage… We lost everything in storage. If I could have gotten anything, I would have wanted my pictures, all of the pictures of my children…"
Help from strangers allowed Monica and her family to move back to Myrtle Beach, however, her sister’s mental illness made it impossible for them to move back in with her mother. Although returning to Myrtle Beach meant they were home, it didn’t change the fact that they were homeless.
A friend took in her children while Monica and her boyfriend toughed it out on the streets. “We went to a friend’s music studio and slept there on the floor for a month - no hot water, just a bean bag on the floor… All I kept thinking is 'God I need a bed. I need a place where my kids can be with me. It’s probably not going to be something that they want but I need to see my kids. I just want my kids.'"
Although reluctant to go to New Directions, after a week without a shower and being away from her kids, Monica’s desire for a shower, a bed, and most of all, to be with her children was greater than her worries, fears, or hesitations about living at a shelter.
“It was a very very hard first week - extremely hard… Just being around people that I don’t know. They were trying to be nice but I wasn’t even in the mind frame to talk to them. I just spent a lot of time in that room when everybody else was out… I just needed that time to talk to God and be by myself because I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, what reality was. I didn’t know anything except that this is not what I had in my story."
Though it was tough, with time, Monica and her kids began to flourish at our Family Shelter. With the advocacy of her case manager, Danielle, Monica was able to resolve her children’s attendance issues and enroll them in school. Resources made available thanks to New Directions’ relationship with over 90 partner agencies helped her get much needed glasses, medical check-ups, and dental care for her kids. And as a mother experiencing homelessness, Monica was supported through her journey out of crisis with assistance securing enrollment in eligible assistance programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, TANF, and access to on-site mental health counseling from The Center For Counseling & Wellness (a resource made possible thanks to support from the United Way of Horry County).
With a little encouragement, and the opportunity to rest, regroup, and rediscover hope, Monica and her family were able to recover from what had been a “trying three years”. And thanks a little bit of luck, she was able to move into her own apartment this spring. "I haven’t had my own place in probably 9-10 years. I love being able to turn my own key. Nobody’s in there. I’ve got my kitchen, I can cook. I can stay in the bathroom as long as I want to. I can watch Netflix in my bed. It’s beneficial for everybody… It's so peaceful."
More than just a roof over her head, stability, and a real fresh start for her family, Monica gained valuable life lessons and relationships during her time at New Directions Family Shelter. “I’ve met some great people here that were familiar with my story because they had a piece of it on their own. If it was just me, I would have stayed at the studio. I wouldn’t have had this experience if it wasn’t for my kids… being in here taught me that it’s okay to ask for help. It’s taught me patience because things don’t always go how you want them to. I’ve always had faith, but here, some days I didn’t have any. I didn’t know where I was gonna go, I didn’t know what we were gonna do. But faith the size of a mustard seed is the only thing that kept me going, it’s the only thing that got me in my place right now."
Now in a place of her own, Monica has come to appreciate her time at New Directions even more. “I think I’m in a thankful stage right now. I didn’t like it when I first got here because this is not where I wanted to be. But when I was packing, I appreciated it so much, that I didn’t have to be outside in the cold, that I had bunk beds my kids could sleep in… I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Monica has set ambitious goals for 2023, including purchasing a car and returning to her passion for music. “I wrote my list of things I wanted to do in 2023 and I’ve already crossed off three of them. I’m trying to just stay focused… This is just a piece of my story, not my entire story… this is not where it’s gonna end. It’s been a trying three years. Sometimes things are gonna be like that in life - you’re not gonna understand but you’re gonna have to work through it. You’re gonna have to bite the bullet and deal with whatever comes because that’s what warriors do. And I am a warrior.”
Indeed she is. We can’t wait to see what the next piece of Monica’ story holds, a chapter made possible thanks to the basic needs, resources, and community support at New Directions.
“I didn’t get what I asked for, but I got what I needed… I’m so thankful for that bed… I’m thankful for the things that were given to us while we were there… I’m thankful for the detergent to wash my clothes… Even on the days I didn’t wanna be here, I’m so thankful for this place because I didn’t know what we were going to do.”
