Finding Hope at Calvary
Keisha is an intelligent, determined young woman entering her senior year at the University of the District of Columbia, where she studies biology. Keisha is extremely passionate about medicine and dreams of becoming a heart surgeon.
She began experiencing homelessness after moving to D.C. due to a housing miscommunication. “I ended up sleeping on the highway,” she shared. “To improve my situation, I volunteered at a food pantry and learned about resources available to me. This is how I found out about Calvary.”
At Calvary, Keisha found room to breathe, heal, and rediscover herself. “I’ve learned to give myself time, grace, and mercy, something I wasn’t used to. I had to remind myself, Keisha, you’ve just come from sleeping on the highway; you need to rest. It’s okay not to work right now.”
That simple gift of a safe bed and quiet space became the foundation for her next steps. With the support of her case manager, Karen Davis, and other dedicated staff, Keisha began to rebuild. “The support here has been remarkable, especially from my caseworker, Karen Davis. After being assigned to her, everything fell into place. She guided me through the paperwork and helped me apply for my first apartment. Having that support has made all the difference; knowing someone is in your corner is invaluable.”
Keisha did not stop there. This summer she will be headed to California after being accepted for a research opportunity at Stanford’s Cardiovascular Institute. For Keisha, this opportunity helps accomplish a significant personal goal that prepares her for the future. “The staff at Calvary have been incredibly supportive in helping me navigate this transition. I reached out for their patience and guidance, and they have been nothing but encouraging and understanding.”
Whilst optimistic about this new opportunity, Keisha was candid about the difficulties in balancing school, work, and financial constraints in today’s world. “The job market and transportation pose significant challenges for me. I feel more at ease in retail and warehouse roles, but these positions aren’t always conveniently located or easy to fit around my class schedule.” But she points at Calvary’s workforce development team as a vital resource.
“Fortunately, Calvary provides valuable support. Tiwauna Allen and Stephanie Patterson are exceptional at job placement and offer a wealth of resources, including flyers, one-on-one coaching, and guidance on how to apply for jobs and what to look for in job descriptions. In addition to job assistance, Calvary also provides food resources, such as produce cards and pantry items. Their resourcefulness has made a noticeable difference compared to other programs I’ve experienced.”
Before Calvary, Keisha admits that hope was difficult to find. “Before discovering Calvary, I felt a deep sense of hopelessness. I was hungry, exhausted, and mentally drained, sleeping outdoors and merely struggling to survive. However, upon finding Calvary, I discovered hope. I regained my strength, connected with a supportive community, and began to believe in myself once more. I feel confident now and am moving forward with renewed purpose.”
Keisha’s journey is a powerful reminder of why Calvary’s Give Hope 2025 campaign matters. With reductions in government funding and increasing economic pressures, more women are at risk but with your help, we can continue to provide safety, opportunities, and hope to women like Keisha.
“To the donors: Your contributions are truly making a difference. They are effective and are helping individuals in need. Sometimes resources like food stamps run out, so even small donations such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can have a significant impact, especially for those of us who lack a family or a support system.”
Keisha’s story is one of perseverance, transformation, and promise. With your support, we can ensure that more women are able to find this at Calvary.