Program offering second chances

By KATE BLAIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

"For a long time, I thought the door of opportunity was a door that was not open to me. I am a recovering addict. I come from the inner city. I was tired of going through the vicious cycle of making bad decisions and suffering the consequences. I wanted the same thing as everybody else: to be happy.

"Somebody was willing to give me a shot, and it was free! Where I come from, you get nothing for nothing. I said, `Bring it on.'"

Today, the man who said that -- Shaheim Peterson -- runs his own small sign-making business. He'll enter Hudson Valley Community College in Troy next semester on his way to becoming a drug and alcohol counselor, and plans to get his social work degree as well.

Second chance

Mr. Peterson's second chance came in the form of a new program called "Pathways to Independence." A joint effort of the Housing and Social Policy Office of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Rev. Peter Young's Altamont Program for recovering addicts, Pathways helps Altamont Program participants to learn computer skills and earn college degrees.

Pathways founders believe that homelessness is the end result of poverty and addiction, and that the key to escaping it is job training and education. But as government funding for educational programs is cut, they say, others must take up the slack.

The Pathways program, which began last summer on the campus of The College of St. Rose in Albany, is headquartered in a building there owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The house doubles as living space for three Pathways participants.

Dignity first

Sister Francine Dempsey, CSJ, education director and CSR English professor, is on site during the week to help students in the program find financial aid for tuition and books. She also does counseling and grant-writing, looking for those willing to support the program in its infancy.

"We believe in the inherent dignity of every person," she explained. "We have, in the world, people caught in a cycle of poverty and poor education; they lead to addiction and dependence."

Shirley Elshingety knows those struggles well. At 38, she had completed the Altamont Program, was attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings regularly and wanted to earn a college degree in social work. But she soon discovered that her social services benefits wouldn't cover her while she worked toward post-secondary education.

"As soon as I told them I was going to college, they cut me off," she remembered. "I tried to tell them I had [12-step] meetings I had to go to and I needed a little bit of help, but they didn't want to hear it. Social services wants you to take mediocre jobs, but that doesn't stop the cycle."

Step forward

Through the Altamont Program, Ms. Elshingety heard about Pathways. This past summer, she became one of the first participants to benefit from the College's contribution to it: the use of a computer lab where an instructor teaches beginning computer skills.

"It was my first step," Ms. Elshingety told The Evangelist. "It gave me self-esteem."

Pathways students, who attend several local colleges, all ease into the program through a six- or 12-week computer course at St. Rose. Mr. Peterson still marvels at his own opportunities in the computer room.

"The instructor of my class is at my beck and call. God is good, to place somebody in my life like that," he said.

Step by step

Once they have learned some new skills, said Sister Francine, students are ready to tackle college life. Pathways helps them to determine short- and long-term goals, then apply for Pell grants, Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funds and student loans. Many participants work full-time jobs, as well.

Ms. Elshingety's schedule, for example, is a model of time management: full-time classes; a part-time job at the New York State Office of General Services to help pay her rent at the Pathways center; and volunteer work with organizations like the Homeless Action Committee to help her "remember where I came from.

"Finals are due now," she added with a smile. "I don't mind. In the long run, the payoff is going to be much bigger. I'll become a productive member of society and give something back, empower myself as a woman and not be dependent on anyone else."

Her status as a recovering addict is never far from her mind. "I have to be careful when I deal with stress," she said. "I keep balanced with my schoolwork, make sure I go to meetings." She noted that Sister Francine has even offered to open the Pathways center for 12-step meetings if Ms. Elshingety wishes.

Blessings

What has the Pathways program given her? "Mental support, educational guidance, housing, in some cases transportation, school materials before I got my financial aid, access to computers right here in the home," she stated.

The CSR social work major, who plans to work with physically and mentally handicapped individuals after graduation, wept as she remembered an incident soon after she entered the Pathways program: Finding herself without enough money to buy textbooks, she called Sister Lee Connelly, CSJ, founder of the program.

"I'll drop the money off at the house," the sister promised. When Ms. Elshingety looked in the envelope later on, she found not just enough money for books, but an extra $10 "just in case."

"For her to be that considerate was just incredible," the student said through her tears.

Growing effort

Two Pathways students entered St. Rose this fall; another five are expected to start in January. One woman currently attends Maria College in Albany. The students' majors range from social work and nursing to accounting and English.

As Mr. Peterson waits for his college career to begin, he facilitates 12-step meetings for the Altamont Program and volunteers at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany. Without the Pathways program, he said simply that he would be in jail or despair.

"I'd like to think of myself as the end result of somebody else's vision" of what addiction treatment, housing and employment can accomplish, he said, noting: "One of the things that helps an individual to get through is hope."

(The Pathways to Independence program is seeking funds for scholarships, better computer equipment and learning software. For information on participating in the program or making a donation, call 454-5175.)

(10-29-98) [[In-content Ad]]