Michael Kelly, 38, now lives in a duplex with his
mother-in-law, wife and daughter, but had been
homeless on and off since 2007, when his family
lived in Clearwater, Florida. Two years ago, the
Kellys rode a bus to Wilmington with a $4,000
income tax refund check. The money ran out, and
the family was homeless again.
They were sheltered in separate quarters at Good
Shepherd for 30 days, but Kelly said he did not like
being separated from his wife and daughter. A spot
opened up for them in the Wilmington Interfaith
Hospitality Network, a faith-based collaborative
which provides homeless families with minor
children temporary emergency shelter for up to
three months.
The family graduated out of the hospitality
network when Kelly found employment at the
hospital and the family moved into its first
transitional housing. From there, it moved to
permanent supported housing.
Michael Kelly has experience as a convenience
store clerk and house painter, among other things,
but is again unemployed. Section 8 housing
vouchers to Kelly’s mother-in-law pay for the
duplex they now share.
Clockwise from above: Once a homeless guest, Michael Kelly, 38, now volunteers
monthly at The King’s Breakfast. Mary and mother Lorraine Kelly and mother Dottie
Williams also volunteer at The King’s Breakfast at the Pine Valley Church of God
where the family have become members and Michael serves on the Media Team, as
well at The King’s Ministry Team. The Kellys, pictured far right in 2011, now live in a
duplex paid for with Section 8 housing vouchers. In the past, the Kellys were housed
through Good Shepherd and the Wilmington Interfaith Hospitality Network. The
Good Shepherd Center is located at 811 Martin Street.
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WBM september 2013