“If it wasn’t for VOA helping with the depression, the house, supplies, and transportation, I would not know where I’d be at right now.”

If you met Carrie 12 years ago, you wouldn’t believe she’s the same person today.

12 years ago, Carrie was deep in her addiction, stuck in a violent relationship, and living on the streets. Then, she found out she was pregnant. It was a wake-up call: She knew she had to do something different. She immediately quit her addiction, and after an extreme abuse situation, found her way to a shelter.

Still, Carrie struggled to get by without any family support. She was introduced to ReStart, VOA’s mental health and housing services, and her life was changed forever.

With stable housing and mental health support, Carrie was able to get into a healthy mindset to be the best mom she can be. She was able to access counseling, a community of support, case management, and simple things like food and school supplies until she found more stable footing.

Today, Carrie is thriving in her career and she and her son are looking to purchase their first home. She credits VOA’s ReStart program for helping her find the life she always wanted, saying, “There is help. If you want it, you can get it.”