Finding Strength in Hard Times: One Participant’s Journey
Throughout this ongoing crisis, we’ve heard endless stories of hardship, desperation, but also resiliency from the participants we serve.
One such story is that of Christa. In 2017, after years of emotional abuse and manipulation, Christa became a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband. She lost her job and was constantly sick from stress. She didn’t have a good support system of friends and family at the time. Christa always enjoyed prayer and considered herself as having a close relationship with God—but over the years, her husband had stripped away her dignity, her hope, and even her faith.
When she finally gained the courage to leave, she struggled with homelessness and was forced to live out of her van. She experienced constant harassment from her ex-husband and his friends, and at one point they even destroyed her van.
“I was so scared all the time. But the destruction he caused only made me stronger.”
Christa was connected to Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (S.P.A.N.)—whom she says were wonderfully helpful—and they were able to help get her housed and employed. But just as things were looking up, she was laid off in June 2019, and by November she was homeless again.
After happily reconciling with family, she was able to move in with her elderly mother—but then COVID-19 hit. Christa didn’t qualify for unemployment, and she feared getting a job that would expose her immunocompromised mother. When it became apparent that the virus was the new normal, Christa knew that finding a job wasn’t an option anymore. She made the painful decision to move out and spent the next few months rotating between couches, sleeping in tents, her car…
“I felt like the world was against me. I was vulnerable and unsafe out in the open, but I was terrified of going to a shelter and risk catching the virus.”
Sister Carmen was here to help. Christa was recommended to Sister Carmen Community Center and learned about the Housing Stabilization Program (HSP). HSP is a short-term rental assistance program for anyone in Boulder County. Most participants are recovering from some type of trauma such as medical, divorce, or domestic violence, where one month of support just isn’t enough to get them back on their feet permanently. SCCC’s full-time HSP Coordinator acts as an advocate for participants, helps them to apply, and stays with them throughout the program. HSP can be competitive and the process of being accepted can be a long one—especially while waiting during difficult circumstances. But Christa handled the situation with patience, saying she only had a positive experience with SCCC through the entire process. She was finally accepted and able to move into a condo in July!
“I can’t express my gratitude enough toward the people who work here. They’ve been so patient with me—even when I had an emotional breakdown. They restored my faith in myself and I’m so happy.”
SCCC also connected Christa to other programs that would help her on her path to success: a career workshop, support group, and a financial wellness class. She utilizes the Food Bank, and Sister Carmen Thrift Store vouchers helped cover basic items for her new home. Now, Christa is building credit, making career plans, and hopes to attend future classes and programs as opportunities open up.
“Sister Carmen has made me feel whole again. I feel complete. I have my faith back.”
We stand in awe of the resourcefulness, resiliency, and dedication shown by the families we serve—we know that ultimately it is the participants themselves who do the heavy lifting. We strive to be there to offer a hand up when people need it—meeting them where they are at, no matter where that happens to be in their journey.
This holiday season, we hope you can find it in your heart to give a hand up as well. Please consider a gift to Sister Carmen Community Center as a way to support your neighbors experiencing crisis and surviving during these difficult times.
To donate securely online, click here.
lakas
Thanks for taking time to rwite this.