Client Stories

Touching the Future

Nikita

Nikita Carlton-Barnes says that her whole life would be different without Room at the Inn – and she was never a client!

Nikita’s mother lost their home when Nikita was a teenager. While Nikita and her little brother stayed with their grandfather, their mother, Susan, came to Room at the Inn. That kind of experience is tough on a young person. As Nikita says, “I remember being unsure about everything – what was going to happen … what the future would hold. Everyone wants the perfect family and here’s my mom staying at a shelter!”

But Susan’s stay at Room at the Inn turned out to be a positive experience for the whole family: by visiting and staying at the night sites a few times, Nikita came to realize she was not alone. “There were other kids like me, and there were other adults like my mom. It was a glimmer of hope for me: my life would be different.”

Now an adult with a daughter of her own, Nikita commented that shelter is just one of the many things her mother gained through Room at the Inn – and perhaps not the most valuable. Susan remains in contact with other women who were staying at Room at the Inn with her. “They have a network of support for each other,” Nikita explained. “It helps to see someone else who was there with you. It inspires you to keep moving. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to knock you down, but at the same time, the little things – like knowing someone cares – can inspire you to keep going.”

Susan has come to Room at the Inn for help since Nikita’s teen years. Client Coordinator Angela Hamilton helped her complete her disability application, and she’s finally been approved. Angie also helped Susan find housing. “Things are finally coming together,” Nikita says. “It’s a huge weight off my shoulders to know my mother is safe and has secure housing. I sing the praises of Room at the Inn.”

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