A Conversation with Anita Watley
Interviewed by Patti Thomas Hanks
Anita and her teenage daughterstayed at Alpha House for three months, and during that timeAnita completed her GED,foundfull-time employment and located an apartment in Ypsilanti(Depot Town). Anita is working at a job she likes, butwould like to start a nonprofit business rehabilitating catsandthen adopting them to good families. She is taking classesat WCC in small business entrepreneurship to help her reachher goal. Anita is a woman of great courage.
Patti: Wemiss seeing you at Alpha House. You brought a lot of joyand compassion to the shelter.
Anita: But it was really hardin the beginning. At first I didn’t like it. I didn’twant to be there. I think that’s true for most people.It’s hard not to beat home, and for me it was hard to go to bed at midnight.The kids are sleeping but you’re in a room with themand it’s hard to sleep. When I got there I had so muchon my mind, so much stress, and you’re not at home.
Patti: Did that feeling diminish after a while?
Anita: Eventually.When you get busy and start working on your plan and starttalking about your strategies.When Igot thereI didn’t want to think about leaving. I wasglad to be with my daughter and not have to worryabout meals or the utilitiesgetting shut off. We lost everything but it wasjust things, and we had each other. I hurt my backveryseriously and hadother health problems and was out of work for ayear. Everything starts to go wrong and it canbe hard.
Patti: Looking back, what was the mosthelpfulthing for you about being part of IHN at AlphaHouse?
Anita: The staff made it easier. It was greatbeing able to talk and not feel judged. It can be embarrassingtobe thereand the staff made me feel comfortable. It madeit easier when they said you can do it. You shouldnevertell aperson thattheir goal is unreachable. You can say it’sa good goal, maybe a long range goal, but nevertell them they can’tdo it. I wanted this apartment and I got it.
Patti: Did you find the Wraparound Program tobe helpful?
Anita: Some of it was okay. It helpsto be able to write down your goals, to put it in blackand white,and it’s goodto have a plan. I think they should keep thewraparound. It’sa good program but it only works if you work.Nobody can make you. It’s good if thestaff is truthful, the more truthful the better.Youcan’t just sit back and relax at first,it has to be, okay, you’ve got threemonths, now let’sget going. Don’t get too comfortable.
Patti:So tell me about your new place.
Anita: I loveit. It’s a one bedroom in a clean, safeplace. I have cool neighbors, rent is affordablefor me with my new job, and I can have pets with no extracharge. My daughterand I are getting a cat from the Humane Societynext week. We are pretty much settled. Alan helped us getfurniture fromFairy Godparents [a local nonprofit organization]and Alison Paine [a volunteer at IHN] took me to RecycleAnn Arbor. Shegave me a microwave and a vacuum--took meto pick things up and everything.
Patti: It’s beena tough time, I know it has, but you’vereally come through it. What helps you staymotivated?
Anita: I give glory to God and give thanksto God for the people who have helped meand mydaughter.Everybodyneedsdirection.I decided when I came into the shelterthan I was going to leave stronger than I camein, andI have.