Ruth recognized the warning signs. If she stayed, things would spiral. Fear gripped her, but when her son said, “Mom, we’ll be okay on our own,” she knew it was time. With only what they could carry, they walked out the door and never looked back.
Her church family stepped in, offering temporary shelter — couches and floors to sleep on — but they were safe. Determined, Ruth sought help and found Catholic Charities, where she met a navigator at Family Connections. They helped with food, clothing, and resources, guiding her to the Hanifen Center to build a resumé and start her job search.
“Asking for help was hard. It felt like failure,” Ruth admitted. “But Sarah, my caseworker, reassured me: ‘We all fall down. Let’s just get up.’”
Ruth was assigned a life coach, who helped her set goals and explore a variety of housing options. Though grateful for her church’s kindness, she knew they couldn’t stay forever. The strain was real: being extra guests in someone’s home is never easy. On her son’s birthday, they felt the tension and made the decision to move to a shelter after his birthday dinner.
But that night, everything changed. As dinner cooked, Ruth’s phone rang. Her life coach urged her to meet Maria, her supervisor, that very evening. In the falling snow, Ruth rode a bicycle to the address. Once there, Maria handed her a lease. The emergency housing she was standing in was theirs if they wanted it. Ruth was ecstatic. She rushed home to get her son and their limited belongings. That night, Ruth unlocked the door, turned to her son, and saw his face light up. They had a home.
At one of their weekly meetings, Sarah encouraged Ruth to apply for a job helping veterans with PTSD. She hesitated, but with Sarah’s support, she applied and was hired. It was a step toward her ultimate goal: reinstating her nursing license and returning to the career she loved.
Months later, a spot opened at Partners in Housing — a transitional housing agency. It was the next step toward stability. Ruth earned her nursing license back, bought a car, and is working full-time. Life isn’t perfect, but she has a plan, a home, and a future.
“This journey changed me,” Ruth reflected. “I never knew Catholic Charities had so much to offer—housing, food, education, medical care—all hidden in the heart of our city. I thank God for these beautiful people. They gave me the courage to move forward, one step at a time.”
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