Booth Home offers respite and support

"I was born and raised Catholic," she said. "I went to Catholic school through high school. But then things went to the wayside. I rejected the teachings of the Church. I rejected all of it."

At the same time, she began to use drugs. For 25 years, she abused alcohol, cocaine and heroin. She was in and out of treatment centers, angry and bitter. Her children were taken from her and placed in foster care.

"I was at the end of my rope," she said. "I was desperate to make a change. My children were taken from me, and my family had nothing to do with me."

Shelter found

When she found herself at the Evangeline Booth Home in Schenectady, a shelter for women and their children run by the Salvation Army, she began to put her life back on track.

That was four years ago. Now the 40-year-old recovering addict is working at an Albany church, assisting others in need. She does intake assessment, makes referrals and coordinates volunteers as a member of AmeriCorps, a federal service program. Her service in AmeriCorps will provide her with funding to complete her college education. Her goal is to become a social worker.

In addition, she has regained custody of her children and reconnected with God. She credits the assistance she received at the Booth Home for helping her put her life back together.

"It's a healing place," she said.

Safe and nurturing

Named for the first female general of the Salvation Army and established in 1989, the Booth Home is located in a former boarding house in downtown Schenectady. The home can assist 33 people at a time.

"Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment for women under pressure," said Thelma Sroka, director of social services for the Salvation Army. "There is a quality of care, and we provide a sense of community."

There are a variety of ways women arrive at the Booth Home. They come trying to escape domestic violence, after being evicted, while working with the foster care system to get their children back, or after being referred by the Department of Social Services. The Booth Home is the only shelter in the Capital District that allows women and their children to stay together, said Major Clyde Jones, of the Salvation Army. Women come to the home from across the Capital District and around the state.

Family focus

In her years as a social worker, Mrs. Sroka has noticed a change in attitude at government agencies about families.

"It used to be that they put kids in foster care," she said. "Now, Family and Children Services wants to keep families together and stable."

Family is important at the Booth Home as well. At times, married couples and their children have stayed at the home rather than requiring the father to find an alternate shelter. The home has a suite of rooms with a private bath for families. Other residents have a small room and share bathroom facilities.

Fran still remembers when she first came to Booth Home and Mrs. Sroka presented her with a key to her room. "I couldn't believe I wasn't going to have to share my room with anyone," she said. "And when Thelma said, 'This is the key to your room' I couldn't believe it. She trusted me with a key. I hadn't been trusted with anything in so long. Now I was going to have my own room. The idea that I could be alone, or I could come downstairs and be with others was freedom to me."

Support

According to Mrs. Sroka, when the shelter first opened, women stayed an average of two weeks. Now, women stay for months at a time. During that period, they must be in a job training program, working, or be part of a treatment program.

Mrs. Sroka said the longer stay "is a wise investment" on the part of the county since it provides women with the resources they need to get back on their feet. The Booth Home is funded by county and state funds.

The time and support Fran received at the Booth Home is what has kept her clean and sober. "I connected with people here," she said. "I was encouraged to grow."

Spiritual side

Fran believes she has been able to maintain sobriety because of the spiritual assistance she received at the Booth Home. Religion is not forced on residents nor is it mandatory, Mrs. Sroka said.

There are Bible meetings and spiritual discussions for those who are interested.

"The Booth Home helped me with the spiritual part of recovery," Fran said. "When you get lost in addiction, the first thing you lose is your spirituality."

In her quest for sobriety, Fran experienced many treatment programs. She found that there were places where she couldn't talk about God. While 12-step programs can be spiritual, she found that God had been removed from them.

"All of the rehabs in the world didn't help me," she said. "It was when I acknowledged God and asked Him to take it from me that I recovered. He's in charge. I don't have to fix everything today."

'Big change'

Fran is not the only person to pass through Booth Home's doors to be buoyed by faith. Bobbi, a 45-year-old mother of one, credits God and the people of Booth Home as putting her on the right path.

"I see a big change in me," she said. "My counselors see a big change. There's a sereneness to me now. I know God loves me and He was always there for me."

Bobbie, who has been at Booth Home for over a year, was in an abusive relationship and addicted to narcotics when she came to Booth Home. She remembers walking around Schenectady's Stockade neighborhood, crying and praying. She felt alone and had no place to go. She knew she had to get out of the relationship, but other agencies were unable to help her.

The Salvation Army helped her put her life back on track. "They show you the way," she said. "You have to do the footwork. I have safety. I'm calm, happy, healthy, and I have a new family."

Kettle drive

The Evangeline Booth Home is one of many programs run by the Salvation Army. Other programs include a meal program, disaster relief, and hospital and nursing home visitation. While some of the programs receive government funding, all are assisted by the annual Salvation Army Kettle Appeal.

"This is our big appeal to the public," Major Jones said. "Funds raised are integral to our operation. The funds are used for all programs; it's not just for Christmas."

(12-16-99)

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