Shirley is 56 years old and moved to Birmingham several years ago from Iron City, Tennessee. She suffers from severe mental illness including bipolar disorder and extreme fear and anxiety. Earlier in her life Shirley worked at many different jobs including time spent as a waitress, a bartender, and a cook, as well as working making uniforms at a company called Colinwood Manufacturing in Tennessee. Her favorite job was taking care of elderly people in a nursing home. She lives in abandon homes and buildings with no heat, electricity or plumbing. Shirley has experienced devastating loss in her life including the tragic death of an 11 year old grandaughter who passed away as a victim of domestic violence and the loss of a son who was sentenced to the death penalty in the death of her grandaughter and died in prison. She also has a daughter who is in prison. Shirley is sustained by her faith, and says, "I know God has a purpose for me on this earth and I hold onto that." The things Shirley seeks in life are simple, "I want a home, peace of mind and to help others," she shares. Shirley asks you to pray for her mental health and for a warm, safe place to stay. Also please pray for healing from the tremendous loss and domestic abuse Shirley has suffered in her life.
Update: On Valentine's Day Shirley collapsed on the street and was taken by ambulance to UAB Hospital. She had been experiencing vomiting and diarrhea for a few days and then while walking up the street she began to have an asthma attack that her inhaler would not control. Please pray for her during this health crisis and pray she will find a new place to stay. The abandoned house she is now sharing with another homeless person is no longer a safe place for her to be.
Update: Shirley remains in UAB Hospital and has been transfered to the psychiatric unit. She has been undergoing testing and evaluation to see if she can be included in a special program for mentally ill patients called REACT. This program provides medically supervised housing with support services for mentally ill patients allowing them to live in the community within safe parameters. Shirley qualifies on paper for the program, but because she is homeless and has no family to walk her through the system she may fall through the cracks and not be able to navigate all the months of qualifying appointments. Please pray that the doors will open to get Shirley out of an abandoned house and into this program that would provide her safety and an opportunity for mental health care that would give her the "peace of mind" she has prayed so hard for. Any cards or letters of encouragement Shirley receives will be delivered to her at the hospital by volunteers at Church of the Reconciler.
Update: Shirley was released from the hospital on February 25th. They were not successful in getting her into the REACT program, so Shirley is back on the street again. Please pray for her health, safety and a place to stay that will be a home of her own with support services.
Update: Celebrate!! Through the help and support of a volunteer at Church of the Reconciler Shirley was accepted into the UAB REACT program and placed in an apartment in mid-April. Please pray for Shirley as she makes this transition after 6 years of homelessness into living in an apartment. This adjustment is a challenge for most homeless people and she will need your prayers and encouragement.
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