MADISON, Wis. — Amarah Hanson grew up in poverty as a child in Wisconsin.
I was homeless with my mom, dad and brother as a child,” said Hanson.
After growing up, she lived in Milwaukee and tried her best to stay off the streets.
Due to a combination of housing and employment issues, she found herself back where she had started.
“Somehow, some way, I knew it would happen again,” said Hanson. “In a way, being homeless as a child prepared me for it later in life.”
Hanson, her boyfriend, and her three children ended up living out of an SUV.
“We put all of the seats down and we slept in the back and in a way, I was almost comfortable with it because like I said, I was homeless as a kid and did the same thing,” said Hanson.
Hanson said she was trying to find shelter and housing in the city of Milwaukee, but at that time everything was full.
She knew she couldn’t keep living in her car with her children.
“You never want to be in that situation with your child, but you maintain and keep your composure the best you can,” said Hanson.
She decided to start looking for help in Madison.
“I called the Salvation Army at 1 a.m. and told them I had nowhere else to go,” said Hanson. “They told us to come down and we drove from Milwaukee to Madison and have been here ever since.”
Soon after coming to Madison, she found The Road Home. It’s a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for homeless children and their families.
It also helps those in need to achieve self-determined goals and find affordable, stable housing.
“It gave me a fresh breath of life since I have been here, I love being in Madison,” said Hanson. “I have not been homeless, I haven’t really struggled and if I ever need anything, I can go straight to my case manager and she can give me all the help I need.”
Lydia Weber is Hanson’s case manager and a housing advocate for The Road Home.
She said those struggling with homelessness often need more than just a warm place to sleep.
“Because we take a holistic approach and offer wrap-around services, it could include employment, mental health resources and child care,” said Weber.
The Road Home works with 275 families and 615 children every year.
Weber said the residents she works with often juggle trauma from living on the streets, finding day care and going to college. Her hope is that The Road Home can make that journey easier.
“We believe each family is an expert of their own story, their own lives and experiences,” said Weber. “We sit down and work together on their self-determined goals.”
The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimated that on any given night there are 4,907 people struggling with homelessness throughout the state of Wisconsin.
Weber said no two stories are alike and asks that you don’t judge those that are in need of a second chance.
“There is an idea that the plight of homelessness does not end once a family is in secure housing, that basically opens up a space for them to deal with their own trauma,” said Weber. “That is why we at least want our clients to have access to mental health resources.”