A Story of Resilience: Meet Melanie

When Melanie and her husband Cary walked into the shelter at VOA, they had no idea how their lives would never be the same. They had been living on the streets for about 3 years and just wanted to have a few nights inside, out of the cold. Melanie quickly found out she was pregnant with her daughter, and everything changed.

The staff at VOA made sure Melanie was taken care of and gave her the support she needed to have a healthy pregnancy. They found a recovery program for Cary, and Melanie realized she also needed help. After 90 days in a recovery program of her own, Melanie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Now together as a family, the three of them moved to VOA’s transitional living program.

In their new home, Melanie and Cary continued in their recovery in an encouraging environment. They found jobs, learned new skills, and eventually reunited with their 4-year-old son. Today, the four of them live together in VOA’s Rapid Rehousing. They are continuing their recovery, working hard, and building a bright future. Melanie says, “I felt like I had nothing, and VOA helped me gain everything.” We are proud of this family and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!