I am honored to share a truly inspiring success story that highlights the power of perseverance, community support, and the transformative impact of second chances.
Melissa & Mia: A Journey of Perseverance and Empowerment Melissa entered our shelter in July 2024, after facing significant challenges. Her path was not easy, but she embraced every step with determination.
Melissa’s journey was a testament to resilience, especially as she worked tirelessly to reunite with her 18-year-old daughter, Mia. After months of separation, Melissa successfully had Mia join her in the shelter. This required a room change, where they were able to move into a space that accommodated both of them. While they shared a room, each had individualized case plans. Mia had endured a difficult year living under strict conditions, and her path toward independence was nurtured by our Case Manager, who guided her in building social skills, securing a job, and exploring her dream of attending college for Graphic Design. Together, they laid a solid foundation for Mia’s personal growth and future aspirations.
Despite Melissa’s determination to secure employment, her journey was met with barriers. Despite being offered positions that suited her skills and abilities, background checks presented obstacles. Each setback tested her resolve, but Melissa persevered. She met with me regularly to discuss these challenges, and together, we continued to navigate through the "no’s" to reach a "yes." Through her persistence, Melissa finally secured a position with a company that recognized her excellence beyond her background. Not only did she excel in her role, but she also earned the opportunity to refer her daughter to join her at the same company.
While Melissa was thriving in her work, housing continued to be a significant challenge. Despite her steady employment and active leadership role in a Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) meeting, securing stable and suitable housing remained elusive. We all worked tirelessly with landlords, advocating on her behalf and providing strong references that reflected her commitment to sobriety and self-sufficiency.
After nearly two months of advocacy and searching, we found a landlord who believed in Melissa and Mia’s potential. The landlord personally reached out to the Executive Director to speak about their journey and success, reinforcing the strength of their path toward self-sufficiency. After gaining approval, Melissa left for a weekend retreat to focus on strengthening her sobriety, and just before her departure, I received a call from the landlord. Melissa was offered the opportunity to move in the following week. With this news, I had the honor of sharing the momentous news with Melissa where tears fell for us both.
Our Program Assistant worked closely with Melissa upon her return, ensuring they had all the essentials they needed for their new space. Despite the anxieties and challenges of moving, Melissa and Mia walked into their new space with hope and determination—a reflection of their journey and resilience.
Melissa and Mia’s story is a powerful testament to the strength of community, the importance of perseverance, and the transformative impact of second chances. Together, they embody what it means to rebuild a life, give back to others, and create a brighter future.
Thank you for your unwavering support and for being a part of a community that uplifts and empowers those striving for a better tomorrow. I will miss Melissa deeply, but her journey is a lasting reminder of the strength that comes from determination and the power of a supportive community.
With gratitude, Jenifer
Melissa & Mia: A Journey of Perseverance and Empowerment | From the Case Manager Melissa entered our shelter in July 2024. Prior to coming here, she had been in jail for drug charges for over a month. She was enrolled in drug court and referred to us.
At first, she struggled. Sobriety was not easy for her, but she attended every NA meeting she could and supported other residents who were also navigating their own sobriety.
Melissa wanted nothing more than to work. However, due to the severity of her recent charges, finding employment proved challenging. She worked tirelessly with staff to secure a job, even seeking guidance from our Executive Director. After persistent effort, she succeeded and was employed by September 12, 2024.
Around the same time, on September 11, 2024, her 18-year-old daughter, Mia, joined her in the shelter. Mia had been living with her grandparents because of Melissa’s earlier struggles, but her situation there had become abusive. She was admitted to our program as a Category 4 (Domestic Violence) Homeless Youth.
Initially, Mia was very shy and withdrawn. She had spent nearly a year living under strict conditions at her grandparent's home and was rarely allowed outside. The Case manager worked with Mia separately from Melissa to help her build her social skills and learn to function independently.
Mia and the Case Manager focused on preparing her for adulthood. She quickly secured a job at the same place where Melissa was employed. We began working on budgeting and fostering her social skills to help her open up more with others. Together, we established long-term goals. Mia expressed an interest in Graphic Design, so we outlined a plan for her to attend college in the near future. We also discussed the possibility of her saving to get her own place without Melissa and explored what that might look like. As part of her growth, Mia even assisted with housing applications for Melissa, gaining valuable life skills in the process.
Meanwhile, Melissa faced significant challenges in finding housing. Her recent record created barriers, despite her progress in Drug Court and her active role in leading a Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) meeting with another resident. The family’s income situation complicated matters further: they earned too much for subsidized or low-income housing but not enough to afford most rentals.
As their 90-day stay approached its end, they still had no place to go. Unfortunately, there was no availability in CCHP, leaving us with no option but to extend their stay. Melissa worked closely with both Jenifer, our Executive Director, and me to find a solution. We networked with private landlords and advocated on her behalf, hoping someone would give her a chance.
The journey was emotionally taxing. Melissa broke down in tears multiple times, overwhelmed by the barriers she faced despite her relentless efforts. After nearly two months of advocating and searching, we finally found a landlord willing to give her and Mia the opportunity they deserved. While Melissa found this new space to rent through a referral of another on the path to sobriety, this empty space would remain vacant a little longer.
The landlord wanted a reference to ensure the candidate would be a good fit for the neighbor, who had been so successful in their own sobriety. Since Melissa had now been in the shelter for more than 90 days, with room checks, chore checks, and maintaining a consistent schedule of going to work, we were able to provide the landlord with a strong reference about her progress on the path to self-sufficiency.
Our hearts were overwhelmed with joy when she received word that she was accepted. Our Program Assistant then worked with her to gather the essentials needed to move out, including dishes, pots and pans, end tables, furniture, and a couple of mattresses for her and her daughter. On move-out day, there were added anxieties about leaving, but we reminded her that we were still here to support her as she packed and loaded.
On November 17, 2024, they successfully exited our program and moved into their own housing. As of December, we have seen her giving back to those in need and continuing steadfastly on her path to success. Melissa and Mia’s story is a testament to perseverance, the power of community, and the importance of second chances.