Chantelle

Twenty-one years old, pregnant, working two jobs and living with her boyfriend in Orlando, Chantelle was ordered by her doctors to bed rest. A hard worker who could not afford to take time off, Chantelle went back to her jobs, the minute she was cleared to do so. Days later, the brakes failed in her car and she wound up horribly injured in an accident.

Airlifted with massive injuries requiring weeks of hospitalization and months of recovery – the baby survived, thankfully – Chantelle could no longer work and was now without a car or a dependable caregiver. Her boyfriend and father of her new daughter packed her in a car and dropped her with her abusive step-mother in Miami.

Realizing her step-mother’s violent temper could be a threat to her and her new baby – and still requiring assistance – she lived with a friend for a few months, before her friend left the country. With nowhere to go, no job, and no-one to care for her daughter – she realized she was in trouble. She called the homeless helpline, which referred her to Chapman Partnership.

Chantelle credits Chapman Partnership with giving her the resources and support to get back on her feet.

“I found a job and enrolled my daughter in their day care. I had a safe place to be, to save money and be in a position to start again. When I was ready to leave, they helped me with my first, last, rental deposit, and gave me all the household items that I needed to get me settled in my new place – even diapers.”

Despite being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2004, she attended both the Miami International University of Art and Design as well as the California Design College, specializing in fashion design.

Now with a degree and a bright future, she credits Chapman Partnership and its donors and volunteers – of which she is one.

“I can’t fathom where I would have gone had Chapman Partnership not been there. When you support it, you sow a seed, so that someone who is homeless can grow out of it and become something greater. Chapman Partnership is a home for the homeless – but it’s also a bridge for so many people who want to help themselves to get out of homelessness.”