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8 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2015 VIPAWARD Family Gateway is focused on ending child homelessness by providing innovative and comprehensive housing and social and educational services to homeless children and their families. Founded by Mayor Annette G. Strauss in 1986 Family Gateway has served homeless families with children for nearly thirty years. In addition to providing safe and stable housing as well as comprehensive case man- agement Family Gateway works with partner agencies to deliver a wide array of services to its clients including mental and physical health care employment readiness and job training financial literacy classes and edu- cationalsupportsuchaspreschoolandafterschoolprogramsGEDprepara- tion classes and assistance seeking higher education. THE PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE 100ofeligibleseniorsgraduatedfromhighschoolcomparedtotheDISD average of 75 22 of the employed parents were promoted while at Family Gateway in 2013 750 expansion in the number of families served in the last three years All programsoutcomes exceed HUD-defined benchmarks for families ex- iting to or maintaining permanent housing and increasing earned income Forinformationontheupcomingfundraisingeventsortovolun- teer go to www.FamilyGateway.org FAMILY GATEWAY Homeless to Hopeful... SHANJULA HARRIS TAKES HOME GLFS VERY INSPIRING PARENT AWARD What does it take to go from homeless to hopeful Shanjula Harris of Dallas knows from personal ex- perience. It takes steel resolve trust in others resourcefulness and a lot of faith. As a single mom Harris cared for her chil- dren and even tried to help others. I brought hot meals to the homeless in south Dallas says Harris. Little did she know that she would join their ranks. In 2009 after seven years as a med- ical assistant at a Dallas hospital Harris lost her job. With nowhere to go she and her three chil- dren Deon Precious and Twquan turned to the Family Gateway Shelter in Dallas. Family Gateway provided a roof over their heads meals and much needed emotional sup- port. I was sad because I didnt want my kids to be homeless and living in a shelter explains Harris. As she sought strength through prayer she remained strong for her children who were teased at school because they didnt have new clothes. I tried to take their focus off what we were experiencing. While at Family Gateway Harris would send her children off to school and then pound the pavement looking for work every day. Real- izing she needed to do more Harris enrolled at Kaplan University to pursue a bachelors degree. Harris Family Gateway case manager rec- ognized her perseverance and recommended Buckner Family Pathways transitional housing that allows sin- gle-parent families to live there if they are enrolled in a higher education program. Harris was happy to move her family into an Shanjula Harris pictured here surrounded by children at the church where she leads choir practice. Working with the youth is a joyous assignment just seeing their willingness to sing praises to the Lord enlightens me. I love our youth and church familyshe says.My greatest admiration goes to my Pastor. He may not know nor do I show it all the time but hes the one that helps me keep my head above the water. Im blessed by Karyn Brodsky StaffWriter Dallas has become a world-class city yet tonight an estimated 5000 children and their families will not have a safe place to sleep.