Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast - Elberta, Alabama

Lexi L.

I reached out to Jennifer for help finding a place for my friend, who is currently homeless and 34 weeks pregnant. Initially, she seemed willing to assist and even mentioned she could take my friend in, but then she called back suggesting a different location that was supposed to be closer. Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to get in touch with that place she referred us to. When I called Jennifer again, I overheard her instructing her staff to say she wasn’t available and that she would call back. This has now been the third day of trying to connect, and it feels really disheartening to be met with avoidance and false hope. It’s truly saddening to witness this, and I really hope no one else has to endure such a difficult experience.

Britney E.

Take heed to the warnings. If you are educated or not on drugs they will not take kindly to you. More over if you have experience abuse or trauma of any sort, This facility and establishment and staff are not equipped with the mentally capacity, sensitivity or compassion necessary to provide the space you are needing to heal and find rest.

I traveled 12 hours against my better judgement after being coerced by these people to not even be there for a week before they thought they were kicking me and my child out on the street. Little do they know that was the best thing that could’ve ever happened for us.

The staff are simple minded ignorant individuals who clearly show in their actions vernacular and demeanor they have not experienced much in life and seek validation by exerting their “authority” over women who are unfortunate to be quite literally stuck with them. It’s only when they find they cannot do so issues are provoked.

Women you have other options and for the sake of you and your children seek those No before enduring the abuses of this facility and staff. During my week long stay a child who was left in staff care was unattended and unaccounted for over an hour only to be found had been LOCKED INSIDE A VEHICLE the entire time. It’s only god who saved that child from tragedy. His mother was wise enough to leave the program short after.

I also witnessed staff come in from drop offs place a 6 month old in their car seat on the floor for over 30 minutes while they where outside chain smoking cigarettes which is a common theme amongst staff who have a disgusting smoking habit. Upon my arrival I was outside knocking for 10 almost 15 minutes in a dark desolate strange new place before another resident had to inform staff who was yet again outside chain smoking instead of minding the house. Which should have been my first red flag.

Again the staffing is a very ignorant bunch and they struggle to find adequate employees because the management is lackadaisical and disorganized, any wise individual would stay clear of this establishment.
I was hospitalized over night during my 7 day stay but gas lit by staff telling me there was “nothIng wrong with me” My son became ill within these short few day as well to the point of vomiting several times all the while staff is trying to convince me that he did not throw up and that he was not sick. lol again if you are educated especially college educated this is not the place for you.

They claim to be a 15 month program which, in my opinion creates and fosters a codependency on both sides of the coin as they isolate and debilitate you from obtaining resources outside of their own by not giving you access to your phone or Your vehicle. All the while banking on a portion of your income each paycheck and half of your government assistance each month… which I feel is more of the reason for the long duration, rather than preparing women for reentering the real world.

Lastly, this establishment claims to be based Christian or catholic values but they are anything but Which I would say is the most disappointing aspect of it all. Staff is constantly cursing And using vernacular, that is very unbecoming They show no compassion towards the women in their care When you are unfortunate to overhear staff conversation when they think nobody’s listening, it is so demeaning ugly and disgusting the way they speak about the women. No one deserves that unbeknownst to them or not especially not women who take the steps to seek help.

The program that I was fortunate enough to be placed in due to these people “kicking us out” has been an overflow of blessings and a drastic difference to what I have just endured. I am so forever thankful.

1 John 3 :: NIV. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Randolynn S.

I've been to this place twice and did not manage to complete the program but I am so glad I was there both times. I had a safe place to sleep and shower and just live during two of my pregnancies. They make sure you eat and stay healthy here. You will have your own case plan to follow based on you and your children's personal needs. It's not easy. No place is going to be easy but I have been to so many shelters and I have never seen a place that helps on the level that this place aims and succeeds to help. There is drama and there are some RAs that make mistakes sometimes. They are still human. Not gods. So expecting people to be perfect is ridiculous. But I would watch for Ms Susan.... Especially if your black. She is extremely racist and has a tendency to single out specific residents and bully them but other than that very small, insignificant gray area I give the place an A+!
And Ms. Susan is not house-mom. Mary's shelter's house-mom died. Her name was Ms. Linda and Ms. Linda earned that title and job. It is a job to be taken seriously. Not a charitable promotion to make life more convenient for an old lady who has put herself into a position. House mom was Ms. Linda, no one else. She also drove extremely dangerous. They stopped letting her drive finally. Unfortunately that was after she got into an accident with a resident and her newborn baby. But I have every faith that this terrible person will be fired eventually. Bad RAs have a tendency to be fired not long after starting. They generally don't stay on as long as she has but hey, the truth always comes out sooner or later.

Shantel D.

I wouldn't wish this place on my worst enemy they coerse the residents to go to churchs and other events to tell about how great this place is but they are all lies they get huge donations from these false testimonies and use them for any and everything but the women they claim they are used for!!!! They literally try everything in their power to sabatoge your progress moving forward so that they can trap you there longer a staff literally called and got my car towed so I wouldn't be able to leave! If you have an outside resource such as food stamps they take them from you! They mistreat you as if you're less than a person. I encourage any woman in need to go elsewhere!

Shaquelle P.

If i could give this place ZERO stars i would!! This was THEE WORST place to live in especially if you’re African American! They treat you very unfairly. They allow pregnant women to smoke. They talk to you like you’re inadequate! The staff there are terrible and racist! I would never in my life recommend anyone to go here! They don’t really help you! They don’t allow you to sleep which caused me to have a high risk pregnancy! They have me anxiety and I hated living there the 1 month I did! Very miserable place, they do NOT care about your well being! They put on a facade as if they take care of the women but they don’t! They will steal and break your belongings if they are worth any value! Im still waiting a YEAR later to be compensated for my apple watch that they DELIBERATELY broke! Once again I would NEVERRRR recommend anyone to live here! Find other resources if you can! The money they receive from donations do NOT go to the women! It’s basically like a PRISON there! I mean the list goes on about my experience! Im so happy I left and made a better life for my daughter and I! DO NOT COME TO THIS HELL HOLE!

Jordan B.

Wish I could have put no star, supposed to be a thrift and shelter but wants to price by the new cost, not a deal. And also not a negotiable business, fake smiles. 50$? I offered 40$ but supposed to be thrift. Fake smiles.

Alex K.

My kids mom went here while pregnant and was given medications and our baby was killed. 4 pregnancies all healthy and she never took medication during a pregnancy until they made her. According to her she wasn’t the only one given meds or to lose a baby. I think this place needs to be shut down and it’s employers held accountable. This was not her first stay at this facility. Her first time there a few years ago one of the staff put our month old son in the crib face down.

Ashley C.

They steal all your foodstamps and wic and discriminate against people with disabilities and it's not safe and stop donating they don't help us at all then if u get disabilities check they want all of it and then rheres no way to survive rude disrespectful and hatred force u to do thing such as certain religions u don't believe in they cuss at us they only feed the white people and if u foreign or black they don't like u I'm getting kicked out due to me refusing to give them my foodstamps and standing up for my self they need to be shut down I'm in here till the first and they when they making me leave and it's crazy I'm suing them also foe discrimination on disability I have been called retarded and etc.. and I am aut I stic and I should be treated this way I pray after this suit they shut down places like this