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She stayed the course — and found her way forward

November 3, 2024  | 
Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley – Beacon House

Resilient Roots

They came to us together — mom, dad, and their children — carrying the weight of eviction, illness, addiction, and job loss. Their world had unraveled, and shelter became a last resort. It was a fragile reunion built more on hope than stability.

But the cracks were already showing. The relationship between mom and dad was strained, tested by years of hardship and unmet healing. In the early days, it was clear: something had to give. And with quiet strength, she made the hardest decision of all — to separate from him for the sake of her children and her own survival.

She stayed. He left.

This wasn’t her first time in shelter — in fact, it was one of several over the past five years. But this time felt different. She came in tired — not just physically, but emotionally — worn down by the cycle of starting over again and again, always just barely holding things together.

And yet, despite everything, she committed. She stayed longer than most — not because she was stuck, but because she was building a foundation she had never had before.

Her transformation wasn’t fast or flashy. It was slow, steady, rooted in her resolve to do better — not just for her kids, but for herself.

She secured work — not just one job, but multiple. Her hourly wage rose from $13 to $15, not because opportunity fell into her lap, but because she fought for it. She worked long hours, navigating demanding schedules while parenting, healing, and learning to trust herself again.

She began seeing a therapist. She joined support groups. She showed up to face her recovery, knowing the road would be long and that she couldn’t walk it alone.

Throughout her stay, what stood out the most was her consistency. No matter how long her day was, no matter how heavy her burdens, she always followed the rules of the shelter. She did her chores. She offered help to others, even when she had nothing left to give. Her kindness and quiet strength became an example to those around her.

Now, eight months after leaving shelter, she remains housed — still working, still building. When we last spoke, she was exploring the idea of starting her own small business. She wasn’t finished yet. She was just getting started.

She came to us from a long road of hardship — a road with no easy turns. But this time, with the right support, she stayed the course. And step by step, she found her way forward.