Tara's Happy Beginning

Park Center's relationship with Tara began over a year ago.  Tara and her fiance, Steve, moved to Nashville as a homeless couple seeking a new beginning.  They had been homeless for several years when Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home.  After staying with a succession of family members, they decided to "rough it" and come to Nashville in hopes of finding work and a home of their own.

Tara suffers from co-occurring disorders and when Park Center's Homeless Outreach team met her and Steve, they were living in the woods in Nashville's largest homeless encampment, Tent City.  Their needs were assessed quickly and they were able to secure both income through the SOAR program and housing in a matter of a few months.  Steve was connected to the Veterans Administration and Vanderbilt Medical Center where he received treatment for several serious health conditions.  They were able to obtain identifications and food stamps, and Park Center assisted them with prescriptions and food.

Tara and Steve are clean and sober and have not only successfully maintained housing, but have become involved in their neighborhood resident association.  We are also happy to report that a member of Park Center's Homeless Outreach team, who is also a pastor, married Tara and Steve in an October wedding that was attended by their friends.