Michelle's Story

Michelle grew up in Longmont; during her senior year she became pregnant. She graduated in May with her class and in the Fall of 2004, her son Konnor was born. Since high school, Michelle had an interest in attending court reporting school after learning about this career from her aunt's sister. She attended court-reporting school at Denver Academy of Court Reporting in Westminster and lived with her mother.

Michelle realized she and Konnor needed their own place to live, so she went to the OUR Center for help and was referred to the Inn Between (Inn). After moving to the Inn, Michelle considered dropping out of school and moving back home. But, Michelle resisted the pressure; stayed at the Inn and in school. Michelle remembers the phone call from her mother three months later who called her to tell her she was proud of her and was grateful for the help she was receiving at the Inn.

Michelle says that the opportunity to live at the Inn made it possible for her to complete her studies. Without the Inn’s low affordable rent, and its programs and services, she wouldn’t have graduated. Her studies were rigorous; she interned for over 100 hours in court to accomplish her goal. She completed her last test in December 2009 and will graduate with an Associates of Science in Court Reporting and Stenography. It took her five years to finish. But she did it!

Michelle developed close friendships at the Inn, and spends every Thanksgiving with one of these friends who is like family to her. When she eventually became ready to move out into the community to live on her own, Michelle received a Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) voucher from Longmont Housing Authority. Now, she and Konnor have their own safe place to live. Michelle says that her son Konnor is a really smart and personable kid whom everyone loves right away. He says he wants to be a policeman on a skateboard when he grows up! Michelle feels she has been an inspiration to him because every day they both went to school and would share with each other what they learned.

Working and going to school as a single mother has had its challenges but she never gives up. Michelle has been a server at Applebee’s Grill and Bar, and has had the support of co-workers. They encouraged her through her challenges as a single mom, and while she continued her education. Michelle’s story helped them understand, firsthand, how the Inn facilitated her self-sufficiency. Michelle plans to have a big college graduation party, and she told us, “I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I’m very proud of myself.” So is The Inn Between!