Chasity

Overcoming Pride and Learning It’s Better to Give than to Receive

Abandoned by her mother and living with her grandmother, aunt and uncle, Chasity and her family found themselves homeless when she was 16. Moving between hotels and other family members’ homes, she dropped out of high school, and began drinking and smoking. Her mom reentered her life, but gave her no answers, “I’ve never found out why she gave me up.” Sadly, Chasity’s mom took her source of strength—her grandmother—to live in Florida, leaving Chasity alone.

Chasity found work and slept wherever she could find a bed—family or friends’ homes, shelters, even in a car. Her grandmother returned but suffered a stroke, leaving her disabled. Chasity worked to get a better job, “I would apply for jobs and lose them because of no diploma.”

That’s when she found St. Patrick Center. “I went there then left because of what people might think, but I realized that in order to get on the right track, I’d have to put pride aside and go back.” That’s when Chasity met our team and we told her about our GED and Living Skills programs. She got housing and a job shortly after. “When I received Christmas gifts through your Christmas Wishes program, I was in awe of the generosity of the donors.”

Today, Chasity has a daughter, a job and stable housing. To people needing assistance, she says, “the help is there and the people are on your side.” Chasity’s goal is to attend college for a social work degree and be on the side of people who need the same help she received.