Welcome to the “People of Pillars: A Portrait Gallery.” Every weekday in December, we will be sharing a portrait of an individual or individuals receiving services from Pillars as clients, tenants, or program participants. This gallery is an opportunity for the community to learn more about what the reality of homelessness is in the Fox Valley from those with lived experience.
It is important to note that all of the individuals featured in this gallery participated voluntarily and are willingly sharing their stories with you; however, their names have been changed to protect their privacy. Any statements, views, and opinions shared by these individuals are their own and are not endorsed by Pillars in any way. Conversations with these individuals were captured on Tuesday, November 2, 2022. Additional follow-up information about their journey to housing may be added separately as needed to bring their story up-to-date.
Tonya*
Tonya* recently stayed at Pillars Adult Shelter with her adult daughter. "I’ve been coming to Pillars since July 14. I actually lived in Appleton for 7 1/2 years, so we’ve been here. We lost our apartment, because my daughter got cancer, and the insurance would not pay for anything medically to have scans or anything done. We had to skip that, because I couldn’t afford it, but we had to get a new car so that I could take her to Froedert twice a week so that she could get the treatment she needed. I took my rent money to do it, but when the stimulus check came, we paid back what we owed for rent. We didn’t know there were late fees, so the late fees got added onto that, and [the landlord] took us to court. We tried to fight it, but they didn’t care that she had cancer. They kicked us out in three days. We had to get out. It was just my daughter and myself. We’re both disabled, and we had no help, and in the move, my daughter got hurt. She broke her foot, because the bed and frame fell on top of it in the moving truck. […] We’re staying at Pillars Adult Shelter on West College Avenue right now. She’s got an upper bunk. She’s kiddie corner from where my bunk is. Mine is a bottom bunk.” (Photo Credit: Adam Hilbelink, November 2, 2022) Things have turned around for Tonya and her daughter since this conversation. They are now living together in an apartment of their own. *The name of the client in this post has been changed to protect her privacy.
