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"Our House is like a house. But some people think it's not a home. They think it's a shelter. But at least you have a roof over your head and at least you have somewhere to lay your head."
-- Tykana, 10 year old resident of Our House
"Our House is like heaven and angels surrounding me."
-- Michael, 8 year old resident of Our House
To sponsor an Our House child, email georgia@ourhouseshelter.org.
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From the Executive Director
It's 2:45 on Tuesday afternoon and seven school children are coming home. I see them out my window every day, getting off the bus, coming through the gates, running across the grass and down the hill to the after-school program. This is my favorite part of the day. I love these children, and I love what we are doing for them.
Why is this a beautiful picture? Because, thanks to Our House, now these children have a home. They have a safe place to come after school, where they get help with their homework, play with friends, laugh, eat a snack, play games, and learn to drum in our weekly Afro-Caribbean drum circle. What was their life like before? Have you ever lived in a house without utilities? With only cold water? In an apartment with roaches and mice that come out in the dark? Some of these children had no home at all before they came to Our House. They slept at night in the back of a car, parked in an empty lot. Or their home was unsafe, and their life was filled with fear.
Now it's 6:00 pm and their parents are coming home from work, picking them up from the after-school program, and walking together as a family up the hill to the shelter where they live. I think about these children a lot. I think about their lives and how different it is for them now -- how much better. I imagine their futures, and I am hopeful. What will these children become? These are not homeless people. These are our children. Thank you for caring for them.
-- Georgia Mjartan
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December 2 - Tie One On will be held at M2 Gallery, 7-9PM. It features Silent and Live Auction, Aprons Designed by Artists, Live Music, Delicious Appetizers by RSVP, Wine and Beverages. Buy your tickets now online, drop by the office to pick up tickets (302 East Roosevelt Road), or mail in a check (memo: Tie One On) and we'll mail you tickets. Please include your phone number and email address if you mail in a check. For more info, call 374-7383 ext. 202 or email Rebecca.
$40 per ticket. $150 for patrons, which includes two tickets, listing on materials and invitation to the pre-event wine tasting with Bruce Cochran. Both options available online.
Purchase tickets now...
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Our House Learning Center Reborn and Transforming Lives
"After the flood, our Learning Center was shut down for over a year," said Georgia Mjartan, executive director of Our House. The Learning Center was once heralded by Presidents Bush and Clinton as a premier job training program - the first of its kind to take homeless individuals and train them in computer technology and business skills. Then came funding cuts, and the Learning Center was forced to reduce its staff. When the Learning Center flooded nearly three years ago, there were fears that the Center may not reopen. When Mjartan took over as executive director, she faced many challenges, but she never lost faith that the Learning Center could once again be a place where people can find hope and encouragement to transform their lives.
"When I was promoted to take over the shelter's Learning Center, our adult education programs had been put on hold for several months," said Kathy Barbeire, educational programs coordinator. "We only had a computer lab that was open for about four hours per week because we did not have a staff to man the lab. Since then, we've developed a relationship with Pulaski County Adult Education to provide us with two full-time, certified teachers to teach basic adult education classes as well as business technology and job preparedness. We also now offer several other classes including job searching on the Internet, parenting, money management, budget gourmet (which teaches cooking healthy meals within a budget), security certification, self defense and first aid." The Learning Center now serves over 80 clients per month (most of them are homeless residents, but programs are also open to clients from the community).
 One of those clients, Thomas Clayton (TC) Lawrence, has been a resident at Our House for 6 months. He is an ideal resident -- working as a job trainee, offering a smile to everyone he sees and succeeding in his savings plan. He enrolled at the Learning Center in late April and has since received his Career Readiness Certificate, completed a four-week financial literacy course, and is attending ACT Prep Classes at the Learning Center.
"The experience of taking classes in the Learning Center has inspired me to seek higher educational opportunities," said Lawrence. "And receiving my Career Readiness Certificate and completing WorkKeys has opened more doors to employers offering higher quality jobs with better pay and benefits."
The Learning Center is a key component of Our House's strategy to end homelessness for families and individuals by providing them long-term shelter, food, free child care, and educational opportunities so that they can achieve independence and lead productive lives. To learn more about how you can support Our House and its programs visit www.ourhouseshelter.org.
Our-House-Client-Turned-Staff-Member Honored for 10 Years of Service
 In 1996, Janet Brown held a steady job working in a hotel restaurant in North Little Rock, but she yearned for a more rewarding career. She came to the Our House Learning Center and enrolled in a six-week course to study basic computer skills including MS Word, Excel, and typing. She enjoyed the course so much that, when she heard that Our House needed an Americorp volunteer to work in the childcare program, she immidiately signed up for two years of service. Upon completing her two years, she was hired as a full-time staff member.
"I love my job. I make more money than I ever did working in restaurants, and I love working with the babies," said Janet.
Ten years later, Janet still works in the daycare, rarely takes sick leave, or requests time for vacation. She spends most of her time off from work cleaning her house and caring for her own four children (two of whom still live at home).
 During a staff meeting earlier this year, Our House Executive Director Georgia Mjartan brought up the fact that Janet's 10-year anniversary would soon be here. How could we honor someone who worked so hard for our children and had been here longer than any other current staff member?
"Ever since I first saw the websites for Turtle Cove Spa and Mountain Harbor Resort, I've wanted to go there myself," said Kathy Barbeire, program coordinator for the Our House Learning Center. "So I contacted Debi Barnes who manages the spa and explained to her how valuable Janet is to our team and how hard she has worked to improve herself since she first came to Our House 12 years ago, and I asked if she would be willing to donate a spa package for our Ms. Janet... and what she gave to us was more than I could have imagined!"
"When I heard Janet's story, I knew she was someone who truly deserved to be treated special," said Debi. "It was our privilage to help honor her."
 Turtle Cove Spa and Mountain Harbor Resort gave Janet and her children a full weekend stay in one of their luxurious cabins by Lake Ouachita with a day at the spa and catered meals. "I had never felt so welcomed and relaxed," said Janet. "The meals were delicious, and I got to sit by myself in peace and quiet... and I ate everything!"
Our House would like to thank Turtle Cove Spa and Mountain Harbor Resort for their warm generousity. Additionally, Turtle Cove Spa has donated a spa package and treat basket for the Our House Tie One On auction. Please purchase your tickets now to bid on this package.
Thanks to Our Coprorate Volunteers and Donors!
UPS employees volunteered at Our House many times over the last few months, landscaping, painting, making repairs and even hosting a Halloween party for our kids! This month, they awarded Our House a $10,600 grant. Thank you!
Employees of Raven Services, providers of maintenance and custodial services for the Clinton Library, spent hundreds of hours at Our House over the last two weeks providing a complete make-over of The Shelter common areas: cleaning the kitchen, painting the living room, dining room and front room, and even buying us a freezer stocked full of breakfast foods by Cafe 42. Thank you!
If you or your organization would like to get involved with Our House, please email georgia@ourhouseshelter.org.
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