Freedom Found in Family Care: Yvonne’s Story
Yvonne* came into our Family Care home scared to trust, unsure of what to expect, and in need of a fresh start. She and her daughter had left the toxic environment they knew as home to start anew, but there were chains that needed to be broken in Yvonne’s life for her to really find the freedom she longed for.
A NEW PERSON
“At first, it took me a while to get used to being around people every day . . . I used to never engage in conversation with people or trust people enough to give them a chance.” At a previous shelter she’d stayed in before finding us, Yvonne didn’t feel free to talk to anyone. Closed in and with walls up, she went to work each day and went back to her room right away, as she was used to doing before she left home. “I never got past names until I moved into Family Care. I started growing as a mom and as a woman, and it changed me . . . I’m definitely a new person,” she says.
Cami Jones, her house manager, says, “The first couple of weeks that she was there, we could barely get her to talk or come out of her room. The transformation and confidence level as a person, a mom, and as a woman we saw with Ms. Yvonne—I can’t even explain the difference. Family Care is what you make it, and if you take full advantage of it, it can drastically change your life.”
Outside of helpful skills like budgeting and resumé building, Yvonne gained a new confidence in herself. Once guarded and unsure, she now thrives in communication with anyone she meets, and stands confident in the gifts God’s given her and feels her opportunities are abundant. “Before I felt I had no options, now I know the world is my option,” she says.
A REAL FAMILY
While in our care, Yvonne dealt with a lot of sickness. On one particular day, she passed out and hit her head while at home. It was a really hard time for Yvonne, but it was also a sweet realization that she truly had a family to lean on. She saw the other moms in the home, as well as her house manager, come to her rescue again and again, helping to take care of her daughter and other needs she had.
“It was nice to know I truly had a family there,” she says, “It’s not just a program, it’s really a home. When you go to work and come home, it’s really a home . . . You don’t even keep track of the time, and before you know it, it’s time to leave—that’s how at home you are.”
A NEW LIFE
“If you really want to change the situation you’re in and never go back, if you want to be a better person and a better mom, there’s no better place to be than [Family Care],” Yvonne says. We are so proud of what God’s done in Yvonne’s life, and in the life of her daughter. Because of the hard work she did while in Family Care and continues to do after graduating our program, Yvonne has received her license to be a Medical Assistant and now works in this role at a nearby clinic!
Yvonne’s life is forever changed, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your support. If you are a part of our Hero Partners, THANK YOU for giving so generously. If you would like to become a Hero Partner and help more families like Yvonne’s, sign up today!
*Name and photo has been changed for privacy purposes.