Janie's Journey: From Homelessness to Hope

 

When we first met Janie in 2022, she was staying at the armory after 16 long years of homelessness. Her story was one of profound resilience amidst the harshest of circumstances. During our initial interview, Janie shared the struggles of living without a home. She moved slowly, reliant on oxygen tanks and a walker to get by. "No one should have to go through this," she told us. "It's not fair. Everybody should have somewhere they can be at peace, a place to call home and feel comfort."

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For many years, Janie lived in her car, until it was impounded, forcing her to move from one shelter to another. In 2022, our team at Wings helped her with a critical step to rebuild her life: by assisting her in obtaining a birth certificate. This crucial document was not just a piece of paper; it was the key to securing a housing voucher, a lifeline Janie desperately needed.

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With her voucher in hand, Janie’s life took a turn for the better. A year later, she finally found a place to call her own. We were thrilled to deliver a Welcome Home basket, filled with essentials to help her start this new chapter of her life. When we visited Janie nearly a year after she moved in, we saw a remarkable transformation. The woman who had once struggled with every step now greeted us in her living room, her little dog nestled beside her. She no longer needed the oxygen tanks or the walker, just a cane she used occasionally. Over coffee served in mugs from her Welcome Home basket, Janie’s sense of peace and contentment was clear.

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Janie’s journey is a powerful reminder of the impact stable housing can have. She is living proof that housing is healthcare. Thanks to her home, Janie is not just surviving—she’s beginning to thrive.