Families get help from area churches
Homeless in Brainerd
PILLAGER - Kelli Kryzer of Emily never believed he'd be homeless.
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Kryzer, a single father of three boys ages 8-12, went from earning $40,000 a year as a third generation painter to earning nothing.
Kelli Kryzer dished up eggs for dinner Wednesday night at the First Baptist Church in Pillager. Kryzer, who has three sons, is homeless and uses the New Pathways and Interfaith Hospitality Network services to help him get back on his feet. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Kryzer said between the weather, the economy and a personal matter it was enough to force him to seek help for himself and his children.
Walking through the doors at New Pathways in Brainerd was one of the toughest things Kryzer has ever had to do. Kryzer has been homeless since Dec. 15. He hopes to get back on his feet by the first part of March and he is making progress with New Pathways' help.
New Pathways partnered with Interfaith Hospitality Network in 2005 and they serve at-risk families with children who are experiencing homelessness in Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. New Pathways, on South Sixth Street in Brainerd, is a day center that offers support, referrals and education. Overnight housing and meals are provided by more than 20 area churches with hundreds of volunteers that provide the families with a place to stay and provide three meals a day.
Kalli Lorentz (left) and her mother, Korli Fornshell, made pancakes for dinner Wednesday night at the First Baptist Church in Pillager for the homeless families in the New Pathways and Interfaith Hospitality Network program. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Kryzer said the weather played a factor in the family becoming homeless because he was building a home in Emily in 2009 and "the weather turned and I wasn't able to put in the sewer and water."
Kryzer said the children stayed with their mother and he stayed on the Emily property. Kryzer, a painting contractor for 27 years, said he had little work during the winter of 2009 because of the economy and this past winter he had no work at all.
Kryzer said things became worse and he explained to his boys that they would have to enter the New Pathways program.
Christina Chavez' 1-year-old son watched his 3-year-old sister play in the nursery Wednesday night at the First Baptist Church in Pillager. The family is homeless and using the New Pathways and Interfaith Hospitality Network services to help them get back on their feet. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
"They (New Pathways and IHN) have been very supportive," Kryzer said Wednesday night at the First Baptist Church in Pillager, last week's host church for the homeless. "They helped me with what I can or can't do, they gave me goals ... They showed me how to find the right sites on the Internet and helped me write a resume. They gave me a place to wash clothes and to shower. The staff is great.
"I've actually cried a few times at the churches because of all their hospitality and them opening up their lives to us. If it wasn't for these churches the program wouldn't exist."
Kryzer recently landed a full-time job at Lexington Manufacturing in Brainerd and now his goal is to find an apartment.
Christina Chavez, 23, Staples, is a single mother of a 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, who also are homeless and using the New Pathways and IHN program.
"I've been here a week from today (Wednesday)," said Chavez as she watched her children play in the children's nursery at the Pillager church. "It was real hard for me to come here. My first three days, I didn't want to leave my room because I was depressed. But the people at the churches and New Pathways are amazing and they helped me with my depression."
Chavez said she was living in an apartment with another roommate and they split rent. Chavez said she received money through the county to help her pay her half of the rent. She said her roommate stopped paying her rent and they eventually were evicted on Feb. 16.
"The kids were with their dad and I stayed with some friends," said Chavez. "But the situation was not good with the kids there so we came here."
Chavez said she used to work at Meyer Teleservice in Little Falls, but she quit because she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. Chavez found out Wednesday that she got her job back at Meyer Teleservice.
"I'm planning to be out of here by March 8," said Chavez. "I just have to figure out housing, but the kids have started day care."