I grew up in a small town in England called Ross-on-Wye, where I lived with both of my parents until they passed away. Shortly after, I moved to the States, married a man, and we started our own business together. We fell into serious debt during the 2008 recession,  and not long after, my husband left me. I had no family in the U.S. and nowhere to turn, and suddenly, I was homeless. I was living in a tent and desperate for stability and the longevity of that state of living was causing both my mental and physical health to deteriorate. Just when I began to lose all hope, someone told me about HEP and I entered their Emergency  Housing Program in November 2024.  

Upon my arrival, the on-site BayCare nursing staff immediately addressed my pressing medical needs. My legs had swollen so badly that I could not walk anymore, so the nurses connected me with doctors who could help. After undergoing extensive treatment, I am now able to walk on my own. HEP’s healthcare navigators transported me to each appointment and guided me through the management of all my medications. Once my health improved, I visited the Workforce Development Center, where HEP’s career counselor assisted me in updating my resume. I volunteered at the front desk of the  Workforce Development Center until I finally landed a great job! 

I transitioned out of HEP’s program into secure housing of my own in the spring. Since then, I have already received my first job promotion! I’m tremendously grateful to everyone at HEP, and to those who support the program, for helping me through such a difficult time in my life. I couldn’t have done it without them!