Rosie's Story

Rosie was born in Mexico City to a poor family with seven children. When she was five, her family moved to Chicago and later to Los Angeles looking for a better life. Rosie's family moved often while she was growing up. At the age of 15, she left her parent's home to live with her boyfriend. However, two years later when she was pregnant with her second child, she left him.

In April of 1996, Rosie came to Longmont hoping to move in with her parents. However, her family was not able to take her and her children in and Rosie found herself in a new community and what seemed to be a bleak future. She could not attend school because she lacked permanent housing; neither did she have any money, a car, or anyone to turn to.

Fortunately, Rosie found out about the Inn Between and was accepted into the program. With permanent housing she was able to return to school, and when she needed help with her schoolwork a volunteer tutor at the Inn Between was available to assist her. The same volunteer also provided daycare for her children so Rosie had more time to study.

While at the Inn Between, Rosie took conflict resolution, parenting, and life skills classes to help her gain self-sufficiency skills. The Inn Between's after school Education Center provided tutoring for her small children. And in June 1997, Rosie fulfilled her dream of graduating from high school.

The following September, she and her children moved out of the Inn Between and into their own apartment. Rosie was no longer dependent on welfare and she was now working full time as a receptionist. Even with all of the responsibilities she had, she was determined to continue her education and attend classes at Front Range Community College.

Today, Rosie has what she refers to as a "great job" working with families in her local school district. Rosie attributes the Inn Between as having provided her with the skills that have changed the outcome of her life and the lives of her children as well. Rosie recently purchased her own home and her children are thriving in a private school in Longmont. Additionally, Rosie served as a member of the Inn Between's Board of Directors from 2005 to 2008. Rosie feels strongly and expresses that in her own life, "Contributing to the cause of self-sufficiency for others is a priority."