Printed in The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Wednesday, December 23, 2009
VIP NOTE: Our thanks to Allison Kennedy and The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer for permission to reprint this article.
Joe Paull/jpaull@ledger-enquirer.com From left, the Negron family, Wiletzie, Robert, Madelyn and Wynee moved into the Riverview Apartments in Phenix City last summer. Temporarily homeless, the Negrons went through the Valley Interfaith Promise Program in 44 days.
Valley Interfaith Promise program reunites family by providing a helping hand
Negron family lived in separate shelters but now can afford a home of their own
BY ALLISON KENNEDY - akennedy@ledger-enquirer.com
The main living space of the apartment has an L-shaped sofa and coffee table. Fish forage for food in a nearby tank. A modest Christmas tree contains presents underneath. The floors are clean and bare. Chips and cheese for guests are laid out. The Riverview Apartments, a public housing complex in Phenix City, is now home for Madelyn and Robert Negron and their two girls, Wynee, 12, and Wiletzie, 10.
Though many wouldn’t choose public housing as a residence, the Negron family expresses gratitude. They used to be homeless and were separated in two shelters in Columbus: one for men and one for women with children.
One day last spring, while living in the shelter, Robert Negron heard about a program for homeless people in which family members can stay intact. Valley Interfaith Promise makes use of area churches for shelter. Locally, the program is three years old and has 13 hosting congregations. Each week, the families change locations and receive food from each church, while the parent or parents look for housing and work. If the children are school-aged, they are provided transportation to and from school.
Beginning April 29, the Negrons went through VIP in 44 days, which is fast, according to director Victor Feliciano.
“They came in and both were unemployed,” Feliciano said. “Then they gained employment and were able to get housing for their price range.”
Valley Interfaith Promise isn’t set up for walk-ins. Appointments are required and parents must fill out applications. Background checks for felonies are also required.
Feliciano said the Negrons, originally from Puerto Rico, did very well through the process. Both Robert and Madelyn began working for a maid service, then Robert got laid off. Madelyn then applied and got hired by Friendship Baptist Church as a child care worker. She walks to and from work.
The Negrons have a van but they haven’t yet registered it. Robert is looking for a job again. He’s working on his English.
The Negrons ended up in the area at the urging of Robert’s brother in Box Springs, Ga. They’d lived in Hartford, Conn., since 1998. Because Box Springs is in a rural area, it was difficult to do things with the girls and get their life together, Madelyn Negron said.
Their next stop was the shelters in Columbus. The girls ended up in Columbus schools but prefer the Phenix City schools.
“We like meeting new people,” Wynee said.
They also preferred the VIP program to the shelters, where Madelyn Negron found many of the rules overbearing and where she could hear her girls crying at night.
“We are thankful for people supporting us,” said Madelyn Negron.
“There are people who cared,” Wynee added.
The unwrapped presents await them. Some are gifts from VIP volunteers. Wiletzie wants a cash register because she remembers playing with coins with her sister and setting up pretend stores. Wynee wants a laptop.
Memories of their past are not far away: A picture frame sits near the TV. In view are two $1 bills — among the first Robert and Madelyn made in Georgia.
