Helen’s Story

Before coming to Calvary Women’s Services, Helen had a good job as a clinical technician at a DC hospital. Unfortunately, during one of her shifts, she suffered an injury. Initially, she was able to take paid leave. When the hospital hired new management, however, they told Helen she had to be terminated.

“I couldn’t believe it, I was supposed to have another two months of paid leave but then all of a sudden they told me I was being laid off.”

Still injured, Helen spent most of her time alone at home. She began to feel empty, that her life lacked a purpose. To cope with her developing depression, she turned to drugs. Without an income, she was no longer able to make rent payments. She began desperately searching for support. Luckily, a former coworker recommended Calvary.

During her time at Calvary, Helen found the supportive community she needed to move forward. She began attending daily addiction recovery meetings and regularly met with Calvary’s therapist to address her depression.

Her case manager helped her coordinate medical appointments with the proper specialists so that she could finish healing from her injury. Thanks to Calvary’s education programs, she was constantly surrounded by others and engaging in therapeutic activities such as meditation and gardening.

As Helen continued to recover, she enrolled in our job placement program, Step Up DC. After a few weeks of determined job searching, she secured an administrative position with a doctor’s office in DC. “Before I came to Calvary, I had my doubts about ever being able to work again. When I got my new job I was so ecstatic, I began sobbing out of joy.”

Next month, Helen will leave Calvary and move into her own apartment. “I’ve already signed a lease and started packing my things. A few months ago I honestly couldn’t have imagined my life taking such a positive turn. I will be forever grateful to Calvary for all of their support.”