‘Be the Light’ story series: Comeback kid
Our Be the Light story series highlights people in Minnesota and North Dakota whose lives are brighter thanks to your support of The Salvation Army Northern Division. This Christmas season, you can Be the Light in somebody’s life by giving a donation, signing up to volunteer, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle.
Few things are more terrifying for a young person to experience than homelessness. They feel loneliness from being ignored, heartache from being abandoned, and anxiety from having to fend for themselves.
So it went for a young woman named Mia (pictured) after her Dad kicked her out of his house in Northeast Minneapolis.
She remembers the exact moment it happened.
“I went to a park and sat there for hours, not knowing what to do,” recalled Mia, then 19 years old. “I was lost. I thought my life was over.”
She would spend the next month homeless, couch-hopping from one friend’s house to the next, sometimes sleeping on trains.
“It was traumatizing,” Mia added. “I was always in survival mode.”
Thanks to your gifts, Mia was able take refuge at The Salvation Army’s Booth Brown House facility in St. Paul. The housing complex offers safety and security for countless homeless youth, including:
- 16 emergency shelter beds for young adults ages 18-21
- 10 units of transitional supportive housing for youth ages 16-20
- 25 units of permanent supportive housing for young adults ages 18-24
Mia moved into the emergency shelter for several months. She stabilized with the help of Salvation Army caseworkers, who help with things like enrolling in school, finding a job, managing money, and other life skills.
“I was grateful to be safe,” Mia said.
She later moved into one of the permanent housing units at Booth Brown House. Ever since then, she has made a monster comeback. Some of her accomplishments include:
- Obtained her GED
- Promoted to assistant manager of a local gas station
- Is successfully managing her money and health
Mia’s next goal is to enroll in college to become a nurse.
“I wouldn’t be here without Booth Brown House,” Mia said, fighting back tears. “The staff here is so supportive. They make me believe in my goals.”
Booth Brown House has been catering to the needs of the St. Paul community for more than 110 years, thanks to Salvation Army supporters like you who choose to make a difference in the lives of others.
This Christmas season, you can Be the Light in somebody’s life by providing food, shelter and care for people in need. Join us today by giving a donation, signing up to volunteer, or ringing bells at a Red Kettle.