From homeless to hopeful

CINCINNATI - Nikkita Cromwell is soaking up everything she can in the classroom. She's determined after a long road.

Nothing about the previously homeless single mother of two’s life has been an easy journey.

"When I lost my home I had nothing… I was in the streets," said Cromwell.

"It's rough living out on the streets, not having nobody there to take you in, I suffered a lot, I lost a lot, my kids lost a lot. We had to go through things that I thought a child should have to go through."

Now the 23-year-old said “she can” for her kids.

"I looked at my kids and knew that they are gonna need me, they gonna depend on me so I need to do something. I can't just keep sitting here waiting on a check every month. You know, I need more, something more than that."

After living in a homeless shelter, she got information about Mercy Neighborhood Ministries.

But the program isn't all about the books—it's about building the students up.

“They can do this. Many of these women come from situations where no one's told them that. So we want to reflect back to them first of all that they have the capacity to do this and we're building their self-esteem,” said Suzanne Kathman, executive director, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries.

It's that self-esteem that Cromwell feels as she works toward her GED and toward a career she's always wanted—taking care of the elderly.

Some skills learned are outside the pages of a book.

"We also are weaving in some life skills, definitely some job skills, job retention skills. And then we build a sense of community--and again that's a sense of belonging, a sense of connection, that somebody cares," said Kathman.

In four weeks, Cromwell will be ready to set her sights on a job and she can't wait, but she's already learned a key component of life.

"Never give up. No matter what you want to do in life, you can do it," she said.

Stay with 9 News and WCPO.com to follow Nikkita’s journey over the next four weeks, leading up to her graduation.

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8.10.11

I'm so excited because today I passed my skills exam.

At first I was nervous, but I made it through by doing my best to demonstrate all the skills I have learned in the last four weeks.

This is just the beginning of my journey and I continue to achieve my future goals.

Tomorrow is the big day! I will receive my certificate for completion of the HCAT program.

-Nikkita

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8.5.11

As each and every day that goes by, I learn how to accept the different challenges in my life.

Growing up was very tough for me especially after having my son at 14 years old. I was only a child myself.

It was so embarrassing because everyone had something negative to say and didn't know why or what the situation was at that time.

I am so, so, so thankful to have the almighty of all power in my life, and I continue to say that because life is good, and has nourished me in a way to keep on moving forward!

-Nikkita
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7.31.11

It has been an exciting 2 weeks, training and learning different skills in HCAT class. This class contains a lot of motivation and confidence.

Being dependable dedicated and on time is very important to me. I was an individual who was either late all the time or didn't show up to a class without calling in, it’s like having a job. My attendance got to the point where my instructor came to me one day and said... “Nikkita if you miss one more day you can not come back this season to study for your GED no matter what the reason may be.”

I was having personal problems, child care issues and I was the kind of girl who always had an attitude and mean expressions on my face. I almost cried when she told me that.

Right then and there I knew I was going to have to manage my lifestyle better than I was, even if that meant removing family and so-called friends out the way while I focus on the important things in my life. I learned to be organized and manage my time.

Sometimes I just didn't want to get up because I was so use to sleeping all morning and waking up when I wanted to because I had no business or priorities, I just wanted to chill, relax. That was not healthy living for me. I had to make myself get into a routine of waking up even on my worse days. When I miss a day of class sometimes I couldn't make up the assignment I missed. That's why its important to be on time every day.

-Nikkita

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7.28.11

It was mandatory for me to put myself first to prevent my family from being on the streets again. I had to make a commitment to myself to set a goal for the future to prevent this from happening again.

Everyone makes mistakes in their lives and some learn

from their mistakes. No one should be judged on their past experiences in their lives.

My past experience helped me change my life around and become the woman I am today.

This is my chance to take advantage of a great pathway to succeed in my career. When I receive my GED certificate before 2012, I want to go to school and become a RN.

I have a lot of focusing to do to achieve this goal, but first MNM will help to send me to the Health Professions academy to take a 12-week class to receive my STNA certificate.

WOW! What a great opportunity! My journey continues and I refuse to let anything or anyone bring me down!

-Nikkita
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7.25.11

I use to think I worried about all the wrong things and make excuses for not being able to find a job or go to school.

Sometimes I would say well I can’t go to school. First I need to make money and get my own place, get settled in and then maybe I will go and get my GED. I can’t focus in school knowing that I had no place to live and no money coming in. School just was not an option for me at the time.

Then when I applied for most jobs I needed my GED and the ones who didn’t require a GED didn’t pay enough. I realized that we all go through so many different obstacles in life and its so easy to lose whatever you might of had or have.

I knew I had to choose a different path one that I can make goals for along the way and never turn back.

I remember when I first moved into my new apartment I was so happy and thankful to have the Bethany House pay my rent for a whole year. “What’s next?” I asked myself. What am I going to do when my year is up and still receiving benefits which is not enough to even cover my rent?

-Nikkita
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7.22.11

Having no place to go and living from house to house was not a very pleasant way for me and my children to live. I figured there had to be help somewhere out there for me, that’s when I called the safe shelter hotline.

The first and second time I called they told me they were full and to keep calling every day until there was space available for me and my children. After doing so for about two weeks I said forget it and gave up!

So we continued to lay our heads wherever we could, sometimes we even slept in the car. One morning I woke up and decided to call the shelter hotline once again, this time I was surprise to hear the lady ask me if we could be there before 2 p.m.

I immediately responded with yes! I didn’t have any idea what it would be like but I knew it was my first step to getting my kids off the street and making sure they were safe.

When I arrived at Inerface Hospitality shelter there were a lot of woman with their children who were just like me. Some had been there 30 days some were there even longer.

After I was in the shelter for almost a week one of the staff came to me and said there was a case manager from the Bethany House who was willing to bring me in and talk to me. I was thinking in my head that maybe we were going to be transferred to a different shelter.

The next morning I went to the Bethany House and was introduced to a wonderful lady Ms. Shannon Nixon, who was one of the case managers for the Bethany House shelter. She invited me into her office by that time I was nervous. She explained to me how they help woman with kids find a stable home and be able to go to school or get a job, so that they won’t have to depend on government assistance.

This was a program that will help me with what ever it is to get an apartment only if I was willing to do better forward working toward getting my GED and seeking work within 12 months; be able to maintain rent on my own.

I told Shannon I was willing to do whatever it took for me and my kids to have a roof over our head and push harder for a better lifestyle.

At the end of our interview she asked if I was ready to look at some apartments. I said “when now?” She said “yes!”

I couldn’t believe the words that were coming out her mouth! I looked at her and said “yes, sure.”

This program helped with all the barriers I had on my back forwards gas and electric, first month rent and deposit and everything. All this happen in less than two weeks I was thanking God the whole way back to the shelter, couldn’t wait to tell my kids we are going to have a place to call home real soon.

Shannon met with me and checked us every week to make sure I was doing what I needed to do she was someone I could talk to about everything and she supported me and still is supporting me until the end.

As many of times I wanted to give up I knew that I had someone to call on to encourage me, remind me to keep on pushing! The Bethany House helps to get you started but I had to realize what would happen after I’m on my own and responsible for my own bills. I would be right back on the streets and on welfare