Gainesville resource fair connects homeless families with services

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -A mother of five attended a resource fair for homeless families one day after she and her children spent their first night without stable housing.

Sandi and her children, ages 3, 6, 8, 9 and 10, spent their first night homeless sleeping at a local park. Less than 24 hours later, she attended the Summer Family Homelessness Resource Fair in Gainesville.

“Yesterday was our first day sleeping at the park, me and my five children,” Sandi said. “I’m just showing them how to navigate through the situation. This can happen to anyone, this can happen to them when they get older, while they’re small and it happens. But we’re together. And I’m sure that us being together is going to be strong, make us stronger, love each other, protect each other, and to make better choices and decisions, not to do mistakes that mommy did.”

Sandi came from Louisiana to Gainesville for a fresh start after an abusive relationship. She said she came to the fair to look for a job to support her children.

With the Saint Francis House closed and shelters not allowing children, Sandi said several agencies connected her with opportunities that could help her family find stability.

“I’m looking for jobs, been doing anything, um, not having any, we couldn’t have any because I don’t have childcare and I don’t know anybody, but it’s slowly coming together for me and my kids and they’re seeing it. It’s progressing and it takes a village to raise kids in, to raise a village,” Sandi said.

She said the family takes public transportation and walks everywhere but as of tonight will not have a place to sleep.

“We’ll get through this. It’s going to make me stronger. It’s going to show my kids, hey, let’s be strong, love each other, protect one another and support one another,” Sandi said.

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