Montrevia “Mo” and Montrenae

Sisters Share a Fresh Start

Montrevia “Mo” and Montrenae are sisters, and now roommates, in an apartment Covenant House Illinois helped them rent after years of homelessness. The sisters had regularly visited the drop-in center at CHIL to meet with staff and access services. Mo called it “a safe place,” where, she said, staff talked her through her challenges.

When she and Montrenae were children, their family was forced to separate, and the sisters stayed with their siblings in shelters. Mo is proud that she succeeded in graduating from high school. “I really had to focus and keep pushing myself forward,” she says.

Mo recalls meeting with CHIL Outreach and Aftercare Coordinator Beverly and with Education and Employment Specialist Camille. Both were very understanding and caring, she says. Camille helped with resume preparation, while Beverly offered “great advice.” “If we hadn’t come to CHIL, I’m not sure where we would be. We’ve been homeless since 2010, mostly house hopping or staying in shelters, which is risky … I think I would have been lost or worse,” says Mo.

Until Montrenae matched for housing last spring, the sisters were living in a temporary shelter. Both are now working, Mo in retail and Montrenae at Amazon. They work 12-hour days to keep up with rent and expenses.

Mo hopes to have her own shop one day and loves being creative. “That’s one thing that came out of being homeless: pushing myself to be adventurous and curious about things around me,” Mo said. “I developed a lot of ideas from having nowhere to go and just walking.”

Montrevia says, “I hope I never come to this point again, hope I can be the person others come to for advice. I like to make people feel good. This experience made me look at things differently. You can be homeless today, but with a job tomorrow. Keep pushing yourself and others.”

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