DECATUR - Several individuals have a reason to be thankful this holiday season, especially when a year ago they were living on the streets.

Valerie Humble said she is thankful to God every day that she can now call Antioch Safe Haven home.

"I was never able to get my feet grounded, so this has been a blessing for me being here. The Lord opened this door for me," said Humble, 45, who is battling past substance abuse issues.

The church's outreach center.;for chronically homeless opened in July 2006 at.;561 N. Church.;St. and currently houses three men and four women. It is staffed 24 hours a day. Lisa Cole oversees Safe Haven and works for Heritage Behavioral Health Center.

Michelle Murray, 37, has come along way since arriving at Safe Haven a year ago.

"It's been frustrating at times, with me trying to find a job," she said.

Murray, who was pregnant, was living in abandoned buildings and hanging out at the Oasis Day Center during the day.

After hearing about Safe Haven, Murray said, she applied and was accepted.

"The Oasis wasn't the best place for Michelle, and we got her out of there. She was placed in a psychological rehab program at Heritage," Cole said.

"We had to work with Michelle on her on daily living skills, interpersonal skills and the type of appropriate clothing to wear," Cole said. "¦ Michelle doesn't have the necessary skills right now to be on her own."

Cole said that when Safe Haven first opened, they were looking to help chronically homeless individuals get off the streets immediately.

For three months, one man slept on the front porch of the house and then would roll up his sleeping bag and head to Oasis for the day while the renovations were taking place, Cole said.

Karin Webster, case manager, said she sees many of the individuals making improvements in their lives.

"Sometimes you would like to see them take more of a step, but it's still good to see them take baby steps and not push them," she said. "You can see that progress in their face and the way they walk. But it's also hard to see them take a step back."

Mecha Brown was one of the initial staff members at Safe Haven. She said she has seen how far Murray has come.

"When Michelle first came here, she wouldn't spend money on herself, and when she received her (disability) checks, she would give away all her money to others," Brown said.

"I know that they all have the potential to do well but are just afraid of success," she said.

"I don't want to feel like I have to stay here because there might be someone else out there that needs a place to stay," Murray said.

However, Cole and the staff agreed that if Murray were to leave Antioch Safe Haven today, she would recycle back into the pattern of homelessness again.

Over the past year, two individuals couldn't handle being at Safe Haven because of some violent tendency issues and left, but, "we never gave up on them," Cole said.

Yet, two others were successful in getting apartments to live on their own.

"We are fortunate," Cole said. "Very few communities have this opportunity to develop a Safe Haven and give individuals a place to live."

"Yes, I have stumbled since I've been here at Safe Haven. But staying here allows me to have a place of confidentiality and getting away from the wrong people," said Humble, who says she is grateful as well for the staff and programs at Heritage.

If someone messes up while staying at Antioch Safe Haven, there is someone to help pick them up. And having relapses is part of the recovery process, the staff members said.

Sherman Patton knows he drinks constantly. He suffered two heartaches and was unable to work after being a construction engineer building bridges years ago. He later found himself homeless.

"The staff is courteous. I'm not sure how long I will be here, but I am a lucky man to be here," Patton said.

Sheila Smith can be reached at sheilas@herald-review.com or 421-7963.