NSV Radio #2 Workforce Series's Story

Deidre

For as long as I can remember, alcohol has been in my life. Even as a baby, my family would put beer in my bottle to keep me quiet. Unaware of the impact alcohol would have on the rest of my life, I felt I had a pretty normal childhood surrounded by family.  

Karen

Karen was born and raised in D.C. She started using drugs in high school, as the pressure to be cool and fit in began to escalate. She graduated high school, but what began as a casual habit with friends soon spiraled into a serious drug addiction.

Catherine

Catherine worked hard all of her life. She retired from her retail career in 2008 and assumed the full-time role of taking care of her mother in Memphis. After her mother passed in March 2011, Catherine decided to move to DC to be closer to her niece and nephew. She had a hard time finding work and lived in a hotel until she could no longer afford the cost.

On a cold morning in February 2016, Catherine became homeless for the first time in her life. Alone, she made her way to Union Station where she met a woman who told her about the city’s emergency shelters.