AHFA is there for the kids - Empty Nest by Curt Swarm

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Gracie's mother prostituted her when she was 11.  At 13 she stabbed a kid in the leg at school with a knife and was expelled.  She went to stay with her grandmother who used meth.  At the age of 15, Gracie came to AHFA’s 15-bed shelter for kids under the age of 18.  

Gracie was so loud and obnoxious that Judy Davidson, the Program Director, thought, “This is not going to work.”  However, AHFA doesn't typically kick kids out.  AHFA doesn't want to close the door.  The kids have already had too many doors slammed in their face.    

So Judy asked Gracie, “What do you like to do?”

“Have sex and smoke pot all day,” Gracie responded.   

 “Well, we're not doing that here.”

Gracie ran away the first night.  AHFA is not a lock-down facility.  She wound up in Colorado (Judy has no idea how) and the State Department of Human Services brought her back two weeks later. 

Judy asked for Gracie to be moved three times, but there was no place for her to go.  Even Gracie's Grandmother didn't come to see her.  However, Judy developed a soft spot for Gracie.   Gracie began attending the Bridge Church in Ottumwa, and eventually asked to be baptized.  It was a turning point. 

Gracie was still a little obnoxious and loud but was showing improvement and working through the levels.  At the highest level she was allowed to walk to the BP Convenience Store in Agency, which is a privilege.  She enrolled in a program where she was working 70% of the time and going to school 30%.  She became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

But Judy still wasn't convinced Gracie would make it. Gracie started calling AHFA “home.”  That's how sad it was—AHFA’s shelter was home for Gracie.  Six months later she graduated from high school and walked across the stage to receive her diploma.

Judy did something she never did with any of the other kids. She got permission and took Gracie to her house on the weekends because Gracie had no other place to go.  Judy lives on a farm.  She came home one evening and Gracie had all the farm cats in the house.  Judy asked, “Gracie, why do you have the cats in the house?”

“Because they're cold.”

Judy had to explain that the cats were farm cats and belonged outdoors. 

Gracie smoked in the house once, and stole some things from Judy's kids.  Judy confronted her and Gracie returned the things.  It was so natural for Gracie to steal.  It was one of the ways she survived. 

Gracie now lives in Des Moines and has a little girl.  She calls Judy on Mother's Day and wishes her happy Mother's Day.  It breaks Judy's heart.   

This is one story of many.  Some are worse, some are better.  The mission of American Home Finding Association is to provide exceptional services that nurture and improve the quality of life for children and families.  It's doing just that.  Some kids come to AHFA with only the clothes they're wearing.  It's a shelter facility that provides a roof over their heads.  AHFA doesn't let them do whatever they want, but believes in loving and nurturing.  About half the kids will turn their lives around, the other half won't.  Many of the staff are former residents.  Some of the kids have never been to a movie or eaten out.  At Christmas and Thanksgiving the staff will often take kids home.

Why do they do it?  It's not for money, that's for sure.  “It's because of the ones who make it,” they say.

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com

agency, American Housing Finding Assocaition, Column, Curt Swarm, editorial, Empty Nest, iowa, Mt. Pleasant, opinion, Pen City Current, Sunday

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