My name is Tina Schenk, founder and Director of Sam’s Hope Inc. Sam’s Hope is a non-profit corporation with the mission to provide Autistic adults a safe supportive structure housing alternative.
Leading me to this huge endeavor, are the years of struggle I have had raising a child with Aspergers and severe anxiety. As a married working mother of a special needs child, I found that there was very little support available. I am not blaming the agencies; they are over-loaded, understaffed, and under-funded. Rightfully so, it seemed to me that only the severest special need cases and/or those at poverty levels are helped.
I have tried so hard to help prepare Samantha to lead an independent life. When she was young, I had a great deal of hope that she would be capable of taking care of herself as an adult. My girl is turning 18 this year and she is not prepared or capable and it scares the heck out of me.
Because my girl may never be capable of living completely on her own, I did try to look at solutions by meeting with her case workers and other individuals. As parents we always have that fear of what happens when I am gone. The long and short of what I found out is:
• She could apply for HUD Section 8 housing in September 2016, but even after applying there is a waiting list. Could take years.
• The section 8 housing when available, pays for rent; which doesn’t do anything to help her stay safe while trying to maneuver in society.
• There are group homes, but these are extremely expensive and most all are designed for the severest of learning disabilities.
• In Licking County, Ohio there are some transitional options, but these are temporary “transitional” options and again do not provide safety.
After thinking about it for a very long time, I put my ideas/solution down on paper, and the end result was Sam’s Hope. My ambition for Sam’s Hope is to help those individuals that may be high-functioning but are not safe on their own. Individuals who need structure and a consistent adult to guide them, like a dorm mother.
I have been so disappointed in how US Society as a whole deals with learning disabilities and mental health. There was a point in my life that I contemplated quitting my job to drop my income level, so that my daughter could receive SSI and get the medical treatment that she desperately needed. Parents should not have to live in poverty levels to get help for their children. However, this is the reality of it and I know so many parents who struggle with this.
My mother passed away before Samantha was born. Up until her death, she had been the accountant for a non-profit organization whose mission was to raise awareness of Autism. I remember how passionate she was about it and the conversations we had about Autism. I knew something was not right with my second child by the time she was 2 years old, she was diagnosed at 5 years old. My mom would have been such a fantastic advocate for Samantha, ironic I thought.
I can’t begin to count the times that people would see my struggle and tell me things like “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle” and “God is preparing you for something special”. Well I do believe that God has prepared me for my mission… Sam’s mission. I have the empathy, capacity, and drive to make Sam’s Hope a reality and success.
Sam's Hope will increase my joy and ultimately my health. When you have to wake up every day and do something (in my case go to work in a corporate environment) that you have no passion for and dread, the feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction takes a toll on your mental and physical health.
I know that once I have Sam's Hope built, that I will thrive and being the residential manager of the facility will bring me challenges that will fill my life with interest, joy, and love.. which will improve my mental and physical health.
Sam’s Hope is an organization that will provide a supported safe affordable long-duration housing alternative to individuals who have been diagnosed with high functioning Autism or other learning disabilities. Sam’s Hope is more than a physical place to live; it is a solution.
Having raised a child with Autism, I am very aware of the growing need to provide a housing structure that not only offers a safe and affordable place to reside, but that encourages socializing, gives a feeling of independence, offers cooked meals, while at the same time requires them to assume responsibility as much as possible. Often, the only source of income for these individuals are disability benefits.
The government subsided housing programs are not adequate and the waiting list to receive such benefits is long. Often individuals with learning disabilities tend to have issues relating to isolation, bad hygiene, extreme anxiety, safety, forgetfulness, lack of responsibility, or self-harm. Sam’s Hope will monitor and help alleviate these issues with the housing alternative.
I don't have one role model. The people that I aspire to be are those that spend their life helping others. Not for the publicity or recognition, those who do it because they have been called to.
Sam's Hope outline addresses the 14 fixes.
H=SA/AO
Happiness=self acceptance/acceptance of others
As a mother of an autistic child, I feel accomplishment everyday with her. As for my current job, no.
They would join Sam's Hope without pay.
