A Bed for All Leads to Nights of Restful Sleep for South Campus Women

In this episode of The Hope Connection, we meet Joyce, a resilient 72-year-old client staying in Haven for Hope’s South Campus women’s dorm. After losing her husband and struggling to afford housing on her own, Joyce turned to Haven for support. She remembers the shift from sleeping on mats to bunk beds as a turning point—“it felt like home.”

Known lovingly by others as “Mama,” Joyce has become a mentor to younger generations at Haven, offering encouragement and wisdom as they work toward stability. She reminds them that setbacks don’t define them: “If you fall to the ground, you can get up. Just keep getting up, and gradually, you will be back up there.”

Joyce is currently working toward housing, with a strong determination that this will be her final time needing Haven’s services. Her story is one of courage, dignity, and the power of community in the face of life’s challenges.

Veteran’s Retirment Dreams Dashed by Challenging Economy

In this testimonial, we meet Earl, a retired Veteran and former Haven for Hope client. After years of hard work and careful planning, Earl dreamed of enjoying retirement on the road with his truck and camper. But when rising costs and economic challenges quickly drained his savings, he found himself struggling to keep up with rent and eventually living in his truck.

With courage and determination, Earl turned to Haven for Hope. Through Veteran benefits and supportive services, he was able to save money, stabilize his health, and move into housing. Today, Earl is thriving in his own apartment, reflecting on his journey with gratitude and hope for the future. His story is a powerful reminder of how quickly life circumstances can change—and how support, dignity, and perseverance can make all the difference.

“Homelessness can happen to anybody at any time. It isn’t something that we plan for.” – Earl