Angela’s Plans Pay Off

Angela attributes some of her disciplined attitude to the six years that she spent in the Army. She said that she joined the military right after high school for the experience, and to leave her comfort zone. “It made me tough,” she said. When her time in the military ended, Angela began a long career in government administration. She worked for 10 years in one department before her position was eliminated.

Angela doesn’t approach any situation without at least one plan, so when she lost her job and was ultimately evicted from her home, she put plans in motion. She got another job through a temporary agency and worked hard. Whenever a position or contract was set to expire, she proved to her employers that she was capable and deserved to stay on in some capacity.

Managing her rent, bills, groceries and more in an expensive city like Washington was not easy even while Angela maintained steady employment. Early in 2015, she moved to Georgia for almost a year to be with her mother. When her mother passed away, Angela returned to her native DC and moved into a friend’s home. Unfortunately, her friend’s roommate was in an unstable situation that forced Angela to seek a safer place to live. She found Calvary Women’s Services online, and two days after contacting us was being led on a tour.

“From the day I walked in, I got a warm, caring greeting,” she said.

Angela said that what she loves about Calvary is the structure. Her case manager provided her with a “to do” list and different resources, and encouraged her to focus on her health. She enrolled in the Step Up DC program and within two weeks had a promising job interview. She is confident that she will be called soon with a job offer.

Angela secured housing with assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and will be moving into her own apartment within the next month. “When you go into your own place,” she said, “you become your own commander in chief.” She looks forward to becoming a more productive citizen, to stability and “having a system.”