A Home of Her Own
"IT'S NOT EASY waking up every day, but I now know there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Angie had been in active addiction, living in and out of hotels for four years and preparing to serve 30 days in jail for impending drug charges. Knowing she would have nowhere to go after she was released, Angie reached out to helplines for assistance.
A helpline connected her with No Place to Call Home, United Way of Johnson County’s coordinated partnership with organizations like The Salvation Army in a mission to end homelessness in the county. The program covered half the cost of her hotel room, but when Angie relapsed and began to use drugs again she could not afford her portion. “I was homeless for extended periods of time,” she shared.
“Some weeks I could afford a hotel room, the next week, I would possibly be homeless.” Angie couldn’t understand why she even felt the need to use drugs, but time in a treatment center addressing the root causes of her addiction had her finding hope again and looking for a new start.
That’s when The Salvation Army of Johnson County stepped in to help. “They helped me with a budget, food, hygiene supplies, furniture, and kitchen supplies; everything I needed to start off fresh.” The Salvation Army aided Angie in getting an apartment and paying the first month’s rent and deposit. In return, Angie was able to save her last month’s income to prepare for future payments.
“The hotel was just like a studio apartment, so when the landlord handed me the keys, I literally walked from the front of the apartment, down the halls to the back. I remember thinking that I could finally breathe."
Angie tells individuals in similar situations how The Salvation Army changed her life. “If it wasn’t for The Salvation Army and No Place to Call Home, I don’t know if I would be here today. I am very proud of myself, and that’s a big step for me. I was never told that growing up.” Thanks to your generous support throughout the year, The Salvation Army is able to provide individuals like Angie with a place to call home.