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Hello, my name is Jessica. I am nineteen years old and pregnant. I am currently living at Friends of the Unborn shelter in Hull. I came here because I have no where else I can turn to. The shelter is a big help. I have not had a permanent place to call my home since I was fifteen.
When I turned fifteen and started going to high school my whole life changed. My mother got fed up with me and threw me out. I tried staying with friends. That never lasted long though, because my mother told me to come back. I would always return but things would go right back to the way they were, and she would throw me out again. This went on for almost three years.
One day I realized I was stuck and had no place to go, so I went to my father's house and asked him if I could live there. That was last December. I had not told my mother where I was and I hadn't spoken to her since August of 1996. If she knew where I had gone she probably would have stopped me. Going to my father's was not the best idea. He hadn't changed at all in eighteen years since my mother divorced him. He is still a drunk and is still abusive. He would drink every day but did not think he had a problem because he was able to keep his job through all these years. We got into many fights and I realized it was not a safe place for me to be. I left near the end of February.
I then moved in with my boyfriend's family at his house. That was an OK arrangement but it could not be for a long time. We rented a room at a rooming house for a while. But that wasn't too great so we went back to his parent's house. His mother was surprised but supportive. We were both happy but scared. When I told my father he completely shut me out of his life. Telling my mother was hard. I hadn't spoken to her in over a year. I knew I had to tell her, so in August of 1997, I got up the courage and wrote her a letter. To my surprise she wrote me back and was not too upset.
In October we had to move out of my boyfriend's mother's house. We searched for an apartment that we could afford but it was impossible. We had nowhere to turn.
I was told about Marilyn Birnie's home and told about the shelter. At first, I was too scared to call but then I realized that I had to and maybe I could even be helped there. Now I see that I was worried for nothing. Things are fine here. Marilyn and the staff are very nice, the girls are great and the weekly classes are very helpful and informative. I am glad there was somewhere for me to turn and my life seems to be getting better everyday.
Thanks and love, Jessica
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