The Space in Between
Our founder's journey from homelessness to hope, and why SIB Outreach exists today.
There's a space in between where many families find themselves - somewhere between surviving and thriving, between assistance and independence, between despair and hope.
I know this space intimately. I was once homeless with my baby, sleeping in my car, wondering how we would make it through another day. The fear was overwhelming - not just of being without shelter, but of losing my child to a system that might deem me unfit simply because I couldn't provide a stable home.
Those early days taught me that poverty isn't just about lacking money - it's about lacking dignity, hope, and the simple necessities that make a house feel like home. When we finally found housing, I'll never forget walking into that empty apartment. Four walls, but no bed for my baby, no table to share meals, no couch where we could cuddle and read stories.
Through God's grace and the kindness of others, we slowly rebuilt. Piece by piece, room by room, our house became a home. But more than that, our lives became a testimony that transformation is possible - that surviving can indeed become thriving.
Years later, as I watched my own children grow up in stability and love, I realized something profound: there are countless families still living in that space in between. Families who have secured housing but lack the basic furnishings that transform shelter into sanctuary. Single parents who are working hard, following the rules, doing everything right - but still falling through the cracks when government assistance ends before true stability begins.
This realization became a calling. SIB Outreach was born from my deep understanding that sometimes, the difference between giving up and pressing forward is as simple as having a bed to sleep in, a table to gather around, or a couch that says "this is your home, and you belong here."
We don't just provide furniture and household items - we provide dignity. We bridge that critical gap between assistance and independence. We remind families that they are worthy of comfort, beauty, and hope.
Because every family deserves to build a legacy, not just survive another day.
