“My fiancé died a month before we were supposed to get married. The next month, my mom took ill, so I moved in with her to take care of her. She died a few months later. I was devastated.
Right around the same time, the daycare where I was working closed. I couldn’t find another job. Without money coming in to pay the bills, I lost my home.
I felt so alone. I got so depressed that I tried to kill myself.
I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks. When I was discharged, I got sent to an emergency shelter. I didn’t want to stay there but I didn’t know where else to go.
Then, a case manager told me about N Street Village. They were able to meet with me for an intake that same day. That night, I got a call asking if I wanted to move into their shelter. I was nervous, but I said yes.
I had never seen a shelter that looked that good — it was clean, and comfortable, and nice. I started to participate in activities and got to know the staff. I started to make friends. I took some Education and Employment Center classes.
Then the staff asked me if I wanted to be a volunteer receptionist. I thought I couldn’t do it because I had never done it before. But staff showed me how and I was able to learn fast. Every afternoon I work as a receptionist in our lobby or in our Wellness Center. I also volunteer at a daycare once a week. It makes me feel good that so many people can rely on me.
I have gotten healthier since I have been at N Street Village. I used to be a size 36.
But I learned about nutrition here and started eating smaller portions, eating more salad and drinking more water. Now I am a size 18! The Wellness Center has helped me get appointments with cardiologists and helps me keep on top of my heart problems, too.
And I was nominated to be a Senior Peer! As a Senior Peer, I help welcome new women to the community and organize activities for them. I am able to tell new women “When you come to N Street Village, you are going to be okay. I know, because I was just like them when I came here.
When I first got to N Street Village, I didn’t know how my life was going to be or what I was going to do. Now I’ve done a 180. I know that this time next year, I’m going to have my own apartment and a job. Every morning when I wake up, I tell myself how proud I am of me. The staff says that they can see the difference in me — and now I can see it in myself.”