Rebecca’s Story
“Before I came to Colette’s Children’s Home, I was at a shelter for pregnant women and that is where I gave birth to my daughter, Heaven Lee. It was a short stay however, and I found myself again homeless with a 2-month-old. I could not go backward to the abuse and potential relapse and loss of my daughter. So I chose to become open-minded and rigorously honest so that I could get the help I really needed to become a mom a child would want to have. It was then that I was told about Colette’s Children’s Home. I was unaware of what the program was and somewhat skeptical, but I knew I needed help and guidance to support my daughter. I was madly in love with my daughter, but also suffering from deep unresolved grief from losing custody of all four of my other children. I have also suffered from severe PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I had not worked in years and had very little confidence in any of my skills or myself.
The staff’s kindness, support, encouragement, and generosity is unwavering. They were the first people I have truly trusted in a very long time. They had patience with me through the process. In doing this, it opened my eyes to love and all that is good in the world and turned my willingness into actually wanting to better myself for more profound reasons. They treated me like a person, not a problem. They have all become family, and my daughter has flourished into a healthy, vibrant, and charismatic baby. I did therapy, life skills, an intimate and thorough 12 step program with my sponsor, learned to budget, got a job, got a car, quit smoking, got a church family, and got baptized.
I have graduated from Colette’s Children’s Home and I now live on my own with another mother! I am all around blessed. I have never seen anything like Colette’s Children’s Home. It is indeed one of a kind. They saved my life and all lives need to be saved! I thank them from the bottom of my heart for all they do.”
– Rebecca
During her stay at Colette’s Children’s Home, Rebecca was able to save over $4,000.00. When she graduated she moved into a two-bedroom apartment in Huntington Beach that she is sharing with another program graduate. She has truly transformed during her time in the program and made the most of every opportunity that was presented to her. We are so happy to see Rebecca succeeding!
Marie’s Story
From the fear of never being able to reach stability to the incredible feeling of having a stable place to live, Marie Smith is a success story of a lifetime. For the past sixteen years, Marie has been living from couch to couch and hotel to hotel with her two children. At the young age of two years, Marie’s son became ill and is now hearing impaired. He was also diagnosed with severe scoliosis and asthma. Marie’s daughter has been diagnosed with learning disabilities. Marie entered our program overwhelmed and struggling. With the guidance and support of Colette’s Children’s Home staff, she graduated our program thriving and self-sufficient.
For the first time in sixteen years, she is now living in her own apartment with her two children. Marie is able to meet her and her children’s basic and medical needs. Her children are now enrolled in a school that focuses on their disabilities and gives them the help they need. They love the school and Marie’s daughter is a straight A, honors student. We are so happy to see Marie succeeding!
