From Survival to Stability: A Mother’s Journey Home
Client Spotlight: Denise A.
At 32 years old and for the first time in her adult life, CaringWorks client Denise A. is living in her own home. For her, it represents far more than just a roof over her head. It’s a place of stability and hope while she rebuilds her life for herself and her two young children.
Denise had a troubled upbringing, and her yearslong path to stability has been rocky. She describes a childhood of neglect and mental abuse, and at 11 years old, Denise found out that she was adopted. She says it was a discovery that left her feeling alone and out of place.
“I felt like an outcast, the black sheep,” she said.
To escape her turbulent home life, Denise left when she turned 18, but then she faced another tough chapter in her life: homelessness. She spent nights sleeping in hotels when she could afford them — but too often, she slept on trains, at parks, or sometimes with acquaintances just long enough to take a shower.
“Sometimes I had no choice but to go days without a shower,” Denise said. “I had to use the bathroom outside at the park once. It was a lot to deal with.”
Denise tried to find stability, but she constantly feared for her safety.
“I stayed with different people; some took advantage of me. I had men try to rape me. I just kept moving, kept trying to survive.”
During this time, Denise had her first child, but she would have to make a heartbreaking decision.
“I had to let my daughter go with her dad, because I was on the street and I didn’t want her to go through that with me.”
A year ago, Denise got a big break. She was connected with CaringWorks and got an apartment. She was reunited with her daughter who came to live with her, and she had a safe place to welcome her new son. For the first time in her life, Denise says she feels like she has the support system she always needed. She says thanks to CaringWorks, she has access to the resources and tools she needs to rebuild her life, and she thinks of her care coordinators as family.
“Oh my God, they are the biggest support,” Denise said. “CaringWorks has helped me through so much. They helped me realize I didn’t have to carry everything alone.”
One transformative moment was when Denise created a vision board during a group session with other CaringWorks clients. Before CaringWorks, Denise said she was only surviving, never able to dream. Now, with the stability of a home and the support of people who care, she’s dreaming — and working toward those dreams — for herself and for her children, now ages 6 and 4 months.
“I wrote down my goals, what I want to achieve, and I’m going by them.”
Her goals are big and filled with purpose: going back to school, buying a car, owning land, and she wants to help others who have been through tough times.
“I want to help everybody — women, men, teenagers, children. I have that kind of love. I want to tell people, ‘Don’t give up, believe in yourself.’”
Another transformative moment happened this past Christmas. Due to her adoptive parents’ religious beliefs, Denise didn’t celebrate Christmas when she was growing up. But with the help of CaringWorks, Denise and her children celebrated their very first Christmas together as a family.
“It was amazing. CaringWorks got my daughter a bike, and she was riding it up and down the hallway squealing and laughing. I got my son a walker. He loves it. That was our first real Christmas ever.”
With Mother’s Day approaching, Denise feels the weight and joy of her journey.
“I’m thankful that God wakes me up every day just to see my babies’ faces, just to hear my daughter tell me I’m the best mom ever. Because I didn’t get that growing up. I pour all of it into my babies. I will never give up on them.”
This Mother’s Day, Denise has simple, but significant plans: “Just spending time with my babies. That’s all that matters.”
Help more people break the cycle of homelessness.
About CaringWorks:
Built on the single idea that all people—no matter their social or economic standing—should have a chance to improve their quality of life, CaringWorks has served thousands of clients since our inception in 2002. Since then we have grown exponentially to become one of Georgia’s leaders in providing permanent supportive housing. We serve hundreds of individuals each year through unique programs and services that are specifically tailored to the needs of those facing chronic homelessness.
Donate today to help us end homelessness.
May 2025