Building a New Foundation: A Story of Stability and Hope

Before coming to Calvary Women’s Services, Trinity was navigating years of homelessness and prolonged trauma. Her housing instability followed a series of challenges that included exposure to toxic mold, which caused chronic health issues and forced her to rely on disability income alone. As she worked to cope with her health, Trinity spent years as the sole caretaker for her grandmother, becoming financially and mentally drained and ultimately losing her housing.

While living in her car, Trinity received the call that would change her outlook. Calvary had a bed available for her. This news brought a renewed sense of hope and the possibility of safety.

“Calvary has been supportive in so many ways. When I first came here, I was grateful for a bed because I had been sleeping in my car.”

Trinity experienced an immediate sense of safety at Calvary, providing a strong foundation for her self-growth. With access to trauma-informed therapy, consistent staff support, and a community of women walking similar paths, she began to find stability and reconnect with herself.

“I’m really worth a lot more than the trauma led me to believe. I’ve been with the therapist here and haven’t missed a session, and it’s really helped me.”

When clients first arrive at Calvary they are provided with a welcome kit, including basic care essentials, and connected with a case manager who helps address immediate needs such as safety, health care, and housing, while also developing a plan for long-term stability. For Trinity, this support created the foundation she needed to begin healing from her trauma and regain a sense of control over her life.

Before coming to Calvary, Trinity struggled to find comprehensive mental health care.

One of the strongest things that’s really helped me here is having access to therapy. When I tried to find a therapist before, many didn’t take my insurance or said I needed trauma-based care. Here, I was able to work with a therapist who’s been great and has helped me work through my trauma and find balance and grounding.”

At Calvary, therapy is integrated into clients’ overall care plan, providing consistent, trauma-informed sessions that support their emotional healing, alongside physical stability.

Through therapy and case management, Trinity was able to reflect on her past and recognize the impact of domestic violence in her life. Calvary supported her in naming these experiences and understanding that domestic violence can take many forms, including emotional abuse.

Trinity was placed in New Foundations Transitional Housing, one of Calvary’s six housing programs, providing transitional housing for fifteen women domestic violence survivors. Trinity shares her complicated relationship with her past and coming to terms with being a domestic violence survivor. She wants women to know that healing is a process, and it is possible.

When speaking about Calvary’s housing program, Trinity states, “It’s given me a new foundation. Like, I’ve solidified my foundation and I can stand up now before I was just stumbling. And it really just gave me a foundation to be able to plant my feet and project myself to where I used to be before I recognized that everything had happened to me.”

In the midst of an ongoing housing crisis, Calvary’s housing assistance and support services allowed Trinity to focus on her health, healing, and future.

“To have them be able to support you through the housing crisis financially for a year is a great opportunity.”

By meeting the immediate need for safety and housing, Calvary empowered her regain stability and move forward.

Alongside housing and client programming, daily encouragement from staff allowed her to make progress in reaching her full potential. She emphasized, “Having the support of the staff has been phenomenal. Being able to wake up and have people who support you and your goals means a lot. They’ve all been great and very supportive.”

Having a stable and supportive place to live allowed for Trinity to take meaningful steps towards her future. After transitioning into permanent housing, she was able to take the next steps. Today, she is working full-time in a leadership role at a retirement community, an important accomplishment after years away from the workforce. She is also preparing to complete her bachelor’s degree and is working on plans for a future business venture.

Trinity reflected on her journey with Calvary, highlighting her hope and gratitude.

“Grateful is the true feeling. Hope, for me, looks like blue water at the beach. It feels like a tropical breeze. It feels like completing my degree, seeing myself graduate, and tackling my startup, something I’m really passionate about.”

Stories like Trinity’s serve as a reminder as to why Calvary’s work matters. With the community’s support, women experiencing homelessness can access housing assistance, mental health support, and programs that help them find stability, healing, and the opportunity to rebuild their foundation.