‘It didn’t feel like we were homeless’; a HOPE Atlanta caseworker recounts her mother’s love and sacrifice
What comes to mind when you think of your childhood home? Perhaps you envision a physical home, but for many, it’s the feelings of love, support, and security that make us yearn for those days. “Home is where your mom is,” as the saying goes, and only when we grow older do we realize how much our mothers sacrificed.
At HOPE Atlanta, we see many heartbreaking cases of single mothers and children experiencing homelessness — some fleeing domestic violence, others barely earning enough to shelter their kids in a motel room or living in homeless shelters. But years later, despite the extreme hardships they faced growing up, what the children remember most is often their moms’ relentless love.
HOPE Atlanta Outreach Caseworker Kavin Bruen works with people experiencing homelessness every day. She deeply empathizes with her clients’ situations because she’s been there. For about two years as children, she and her sister experienced “hidden homelessness” — living in temporary, precarious situations like hotels or relatives’ homes.
“I’ve been homeless before, not to the point where my clients are — sleeping in tents, under bridges, or abandoned churches,” Kavin said. “When people think of ‘homeless,’ that’s what people think of, but for me, if you’re staying with friends or family and you’re here and there for a couple of weeks, that’s homeless.”
Like many people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, their situation wasn’t due to poor decision-making or personal failings — quite the opposite. Kavin’s mother worked tirelessly. But the economy was bad, and surviving on a single-parent income was tough.
“She had to make tough decisions, but she always made sure my little sister and I always had a place to go,” Kavin recalled. “It didn’t feel any different for me. Whenever we had to stay somewhere or with someone, it was for an extended period of time, but it didn’t feel like we were homeless.”
Growing up in Savannah, Kavin and her sister often stayed at their grandparents’ house, and she remembers living in an extended-stay hotel for two months. But Kavin doesn’t dwell on the things they didn’t have growing up.
“We stayed fed,” she said. “We were clean, had clothes in our bags, and most of all, we were loved. I grew up with love. My mom made sure to show us love, and I had a village that loved me.”
By the time Kavin was in high school, her mom had secured a stable home for their family. She never realized her family once experienced homelessness until she took a community service field trip.
“My high school chorus teacher took us down to the Savannah Mission to volunteer at the soup kitchen, and when I got to know the clients there — what they were going through and how they became homeless — I realized it was similar to how we were living,” she said.
Now, she feels nothing but appreciation for her mother’s sacrifices, which are more vivid in hindsight.
“As I got older, I understood why she made the decisions she made,” Kavin said. “She didn’t put her children in adult business. She made sure our upbringing was kid-friendly and surrounded by love.”
Having dedicated her career to assisting other people experiencing homelessness, Kavin is constantly reminded of those sacrifices. And each time she helps someone transition to permanent housing, it’s all the more meaningful.
“I had one client who was filled with emotions because she’s been homeless for a long time,” she said. “This is her very first apartment, and she’s almost 60 years old. She said she’s excited to bring her mom to a space that is hers.”
What’s better than flowers for Mother’s Day?
Honor her with an act of kindness!
Did you know you can donate to honor a loved one, like your incredible mom (or mother figure)? Not only will you show her how much she inspires you. Your donation will help support local families struggling with homelessness and housing insecurity.
