Hope After Homelessness: A Woman Overcomes Tragedy
For many people the idea of being homeless seems a very remote possibility. Something that happens to others but somehow couldn’t to them. Sadly, it is sometimes easier than they expect. This was Tonya’s experience, a client of The Salvation Army who is now getting back on her feet.
Things were going well for Tonya until the COVID-19 pandemic. She had recently gotten married to her husband Danny. They had a house, and Danny ran a successful heating and plumbing business. Then their lives were turned upside down.
One day Danny woke up unable to get out of bed and breathed with difficulty. He was rushed to the hospital, and the next day passed away due to complications from COVID. Tonya, still in shock, had little time to grieve her loss. With her husband gone, she no longer had any income and soon lost her house.
“It was really hard because I had never been in this situation of facing homelessness. And trying to navigate what was going to be my next step,” Tonya said.
She found herself sleeping in her truck and stayed at a cousin’s house for a few days. But she needed a permanent solution. Then, through a program called CAM Detroit which helps people in need find a bed, she was connected to The Salvation Army.
Her fortunes began to improve as she was told a bed was available at The Salvation Army Booth Services Shelter. She was even told her service dog could stay with her.
“At the time I had a service dog, so they allowed me and Pepper to stay there. And if it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I would’ve ended up.”
She applied for Section 8 housing and received a voucher after a few months. She was able to find an apartment in Melvindale and is now working hard to get her life back together. Though the path ahead is not easy, she is grateful for the help she received from The Salvation Army and now has the hope that allows her to carry on.
If you would you like to help people like Tonya receive the help and hope they need, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer or donate to The Salvation Army.