MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- For more than 20 years, the Nia Imani Family transitional home in Milwaukee’s North Side has served at least 400 young, single mothers and their children who are homeless.
Currently, 10 of the 13 apartment units at Nia Imani Family, Inc. are filled with residents younger than 25 years old who are struggling with drug abuse, childhood trauma and making ends meet.
“They wanted a better life, they wanted their lives to change, they did not want to be addicted.”
Belinda Pittman McGee founded the transitional home back in the ’90s.
After opening the home, it didn’t take long for her to see that this is exactly what Milwaukee needed.
“Mothers started just coming to the door and said, we hear that you help people and they started sharing with me that they were homeless. Some of them would say at the time that they were sleeping in their cars,” said McGee.
She knows firsthand what that feels like. After dropping out of high school, Belinda was married at 19 years old. Years later with three children, she escaped what she called a toxic marriage. One day later, Belinda, her son, and two daughters walked to a local shelter for abused women.
In this transitional home, each mother must follow a curfew, work with a counselor to deal with early trauma, and develop short and long-term goals. During their two-year stay, residents learn how to cook, manage money and sometimes, they’re simply playing catchup.
“If a mother knows their ABCs, some of the alphabets from a-z are missing, they cannot read, they cannot spell and they cannot write very well,” said McGee.
Teachers and counselors who are trained by Saint A work closely with the ladies. Once the women graduate and transition into a place of their own, Belinda sees the rate of success firsthand.
“I’ve seen mothers go to college. A few of them have received their degrees, I’ve seen mothers get decent-paying jobs,” added McGee.
Most importantly, McGee sees cycles being broken with a stable environment that comes with life skills and a fresh start.
McGee says Nia Imani Family, Inc. is always in need of donated furniture, kitchen appliances, and home décor. This helps when graduating mothers transition to their own homes. To donate, call 414-933-1633. To learn more about the Nia Imani Family, Inc., visit their website.
