During difficult times, it is often easy to give up and allow the flood of hardships before us to take over and direct our future.  Arrika’s story shows us that it is never too late to take control and redirect life’s circumstances and that it is possible if we help one another.  Sarah’s House in Northfield provided Arrika with the bit of extra help that she needed so that she could redirect her future.  It is a lesson for all of us.  Here is Arrika’s story.

“I was homeless and I didn’t have any place to go,” Arrika recalls. “I didn’t want to go back to my hometown because it would be easy to slip back into the person I was before. I needed to be sober. I needed a lot of help.”

When Arrika first arrived at Sarah’s House, she felt scared and uncertain about her future. The initial fear was overwhelming, but her roommate, who had been through a similar journey, was instrumental in helping her feel comfortable.  She became a steadfast friend which was just what Arrika needed. Arrika. had already been through treatment and a halfway house before coming to the shelter, but what she needed most was support in a sober environment.

Opening up to her roommates was challenging at first, but as they shared their stories, Arrika began to feel more comfortable. “It was like being at home,” she says. “Cooking together, making sure everybody eats. We take turns cooking, making sure everyone is okay, and saying goodnight to each other every night. Watching TV with other people in the house made me feel like part of a family again.”

At Northfield’s Sarah’s House Arrika received professional case management support. Her case manager helped her find housing, create a budget, create a resume, apply for jobs, gain employment, and encourage sobriety. Arrika stayed at the shelter for a year and three months, during which time she was able to have two surgeries and recover in the safety and comfort of a supportive home. She not only found a place to live but also rediscovered a sense of belonging and purpose. Her relationships with her family, especially her daughters and grandkids, improved significantly because she was clean and sober.

Arrika is profoundly grateful for Sarah’s House and the support she received.  In her words, “Without this place, I don’t know where I would be. The love and care I found here gave me a second chance at life.”

On behalf of everyone at Northfield’s Sarah’s House and Ruth’s House in Faribault, we thank the Rice County community for supporting our mission and our ability to give women and children in crisis a second chance at life.

Susan Stout
Ruth’s House/Sarah’s House Outreach Coordinator