In July 2017, the Mission Society awarded a $5,000 grant to the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition (BCHC), located in North Carolina. BCHC supports families in their transition from homelessness to a place of security, identity and a sense of belonging. Mission Society funding supported their “Home at Last” program, helping three families move from unstable living situations to permanent residences. Families are required to complete an application for funding for a security deposit, first month’s rent and moving expenses.
Rita Canfield, who is a Franciscan Sisters of Allegany Associate, applied for the grant. She is a founding board member of BCHC and serves in numerous capacities within the organization. Rita, along with BCHC’s president, Barbara Serafin, is “on-call” one to two weeks every month, responding to calls for assistance for housing, temporary shelter, transportation, medical care, etc. Rita’s goal is to “end homelessness,” and this program provides a real opportunity to do that for families in Brunswick County, NC.
L-R: Heath; his daughters, Kaitlin and Emily Darlene; and Rita Canfield, FSA Associate and Brunswick County Homeless Coalition founder and volunteer.
Heath’s Story – Home at Last…
Two years ago, Heath was losing weight and having trouble keeping food down. After ER and doctor visits, he learned that he had Stage 4 cancer with masses on his kidney, aorta, spleen, large intestine and stomach. The masses were removed, but the healing was long and painful.
“In the meantime, I lost my place and my ride, and my kids were in Pennsylvania with their mother. I was always with my two girls, so I felt very alone,” said Heath. “With one of my old friends, I found God again. And when I got my girls back, we went to church as often as we could.
“At one point, we lived with a couple and met their neighbor. She fell in love with my girls and helped me with them in so many ways. She was God-fearing and truthful. After many trials, Rita stepped in and gave me the next big hope. A key to get a life back. I am now back with the mother of my girls and happier than I’ve been in years.”
Mission Society funds enabled Heath and his family to move into a new home by paying for the first month’s rent, security deposit and moving expenses.
Pictured (L-R) outside of Heath’s new home: Barbara Serafin, BCHC president; Heath’s daughter, Emily Darlene; and Heath.
“I hope you truly understand how much this means to me and the stability it will bring to the things I hold dear in this world. Thank you.” – A Truly Humbled Man, Heath
Rita says that there is no “typical” family in Brunswick County with whom they work. They have worked with people struggling with short-term homelessness or are more long-term transient individuals. They have provided temporary shelter in local motels, funded utility bills, assisted with medications and transportation, and have helped with rent to prevent evictions. Many of their clients are mothers with three or four school-age children, and possibly a disabled husband with a range of medical needs, and unreliable transportation
A total of three families were helped with the Mission Society’s grant for BCHC’s “Home at Last” program. One was Heath’s family, featured here.
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