From Trauma to Hope – A Mother’s Journey

For Denise, a participant in our Women & Families Program, finding shelter at Homeless Solutions has been a blessing. As a single mother who left an abusive marriage in 2018, Denise continued to face the challenges of post-separation abuse while caring for a teenager with ADHD, autism, and complex social-emotional needs. The demands of supporting her child through crisis ultimately made it impossible for her to maintain employment.

When their home was foreclosed on, Denise and her child found themselves with nowhere to go. For three months, they lived in motels that felt both unsafe and unsanitary—a traumatic experience that was compounded by having to store their belongings and leave their former life behind.

After securing a place in our shelter, Denise describes the most significant change in her life: feeling safe. “When you don’t feel safe in your surroundings, it’s traumatizing,” she explains. With this foundation of safety and security, Denise has been able to focus on what matters most—caring for both her child’s mental health and her own.

Because of the stability Homeless Solutions is giving her, Denise is able to seek employment again. She is looking in the mental health field, where she hopes to use her psychology degree. “I like to help people,” she says, “and it’s a way to give back the help I’ve received.” Her goal is to find meaningful work that will enable her to support her family and secure stable permanent housing where she and her child can truly thrive.

Denise deeply appreciates HSI’s solutions-oriented approach to support. Financial workshops have given her smart saving and money managing tips, while teen events organized by Youth Services Coordinator Gabby have started to give her child a sense of independence and self-confidence.

“Homeless Solutions is a place to give people a fresh start,” Denise reflects. “You may need to swallow your pride (by coming) here, but it allows you to maintain your dignity, not lose it. I’m grateful for Homeless Solutions and the opportunity to live in the shelter, because at the end of the day, I’ve seen where we could be and I never want to go back.”

Denise’s story exemplifies our “Hand-Up” philosophy in action—providing not just shelter, but the comprehensive support that empowers families to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.