Jane

Jane (not her real name) grew up in pleasant neighborhood in St. Paul. Her parents, both of whom had good jobs, had a good social life, and alcohol was a part of most family occasions. By the time she was 12, Jane was no stranger to spirits. She had her first shot with her father on a camping trip because she was cold: he said it would "warm her up", and she remembers the feeling she derived from the alcohol as one of warmth and well-being.

As a teenager, Jane chose friends who enjoyed drinking, smoking, and flirting with some of the "softer" drugs. Jane, who had been overweight since she was a child, said that when she used, she felt not only comfortable about her looks, but attractive. By her senior year she was heavily involved with marijuana, and with an abusive man who was wanted by the police. By Christmas she was pregnant. With no word to her family, she dropped out of school, and ran off with the father of her baby, and settled in Las Vegas. Despite continued abuse she remained with her daughter's father, who by this point was involved in armed robbery, until the child was 9 months old. She then returned to the Twin Cities to a shelter, determined to get her life together.

On welfare, though, Jane had money and time to party. She hooked up with her old high school friends, who by this point were doing cocaine, and found that she liked it, too. It didn't take long to meet a new, equally abusive man, and before long she was pregnant again. Her decision to keep the baby was coupled with a decision to remain sober for the duration of her pregnancy. Immediately after the birth of her second daughter, however, Jane got high--in the hospital, with her boyfriend and her pals at her bedside. She says that during the next few years she was "functional", ie. she used regularly, but was able to hold her job as a bartender. She was also able to party a lot after work with the male customers, and became extremely promiscuous.

Predictably the relationship with her baby daughter's father disintegrated. He got custody of the child, and Jane's next boyfriend introduced her to crack-cocaine. Crack proved to be Jane's "drug of choice", and she would do literally anything to get high. Jane ceased to be "functional". Her life revolved around crack--nothing else mattered but the next hit: not daily beatings by her crackhead boyfriend, not the fact that she was neglecting her oldest daughter to the point of severe abuse, nor the fact that she was driven by her cravings into prostitution. Jane sold her own belongings, and every gift that had ever been given to her daughter--her bike, her walkman, her boombox, and even her clothes, so she could buy crack. Of course, Jane lost custody of this daughter, too. In fact, she lost almost everything--apartments, jobs, all her possessions, and any remnant of pride that was left. The one thing she didn't lose was the love of a few family members (notably, her sister who cared for her daughter), and one friend.

These few encouraged Jane to go into treatment. She tried several times, but was unable to remain sober after she left the facility. After one 90-day treatment program, she left the center, and went straight to the crack house. She ended up prostituting on Franklin Avenue and living in a car. A friend took her in. Jane repaid his generosity by selling his car for $50 worth of crack.

On October 7, 1997, Jane went into Park Avenue Treatment Center with the knowledge that if she couldn't make it work this time, she would die. At Park Avenue Jane heard about New Foundations, Inc., a supportive housing program on St. Paul's east side. When she completed her treatment, she called the staff at New Foundations. She was told that there was no room. Convinced that unless she lived in an environment that would support her sobriety, and allow her to reclaim her life and her children, she just wouldn't make it. So she telephoned the staff at New Foundations every day. Finally, after two weeks, Jane was given an interview, and was asked to move in.

The staff member who welcomed Jane hugged her, gave her a key, and said, "I trust you," words that she had not heard in a very long time. Jane was asked to think about her life, and come up with a goal sheet. After reestablishing her relationship with her children, Number 1 on her list was this: "I will not leave New Foundations until I can buy my own house."

That was four years ago. Since that time Jane has accomplished an enormous amount. While maintaining her sobriety, she worked extensively with the employment and education specialist at New Foundations. She got her GED, and received training and education so she could become employed. She now has an excellent job, and has, been promoted to a supervisory position. Jane reunited almost immediately with her oldest daughter, who still lives with her. Now 20, she graduated from high school, has a job, and has plans to go to college to study film directing. Although Jane hasn't yet established as close a relationship as she would like with her younger daughter, she does see her regularly. She is also active in her church, helps run a women's 12-step program, mentors other Crestview women, and advocates in the community for supportive housing.

Of New Foundations supportive housing Crestview Community, Jane said, "New Foundations gave me life. The staff there has helped me learn to be accountable for my actions. The most important thing is that my daughter feels safe and secure. She knows her neighbors are clean and sober. We have friends and support in our building...[it] is filled with people with similar stories--people who might still be living on the streets or in shelters if it weren't for supportive housing. "

In July 2001, Jane's #1 goal was realized: she and her husband of one year, a kind man who is also sober, bought a house. They have just moved in with Jane's oldest daughter. Jane attributes her success, and her ability to make positive changes in her life to New Foundations' supportive housing program and the support, education and training she received at Crestview.

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