"Our objective is that every client will be a responsible person, living in a supportive community (church, spouse and friends), with a job and permanent housing."

Lisa's Story

Lisa says she would have been in the same boat (homeless and using drugs) had it not been for the six-month addiction treatment program at the New Hope Family Shelter. Read more >> 

 

Restored Life

Lisa's Story

New Hope Family Shelter

Lisa says she would have been in the same boat (homeless and using drugs) had it not been for the six-month addiction treatment program at the New Hope Family Shelter.

She had gone through rehabilitation in the past, but says that, "Even though I wanted to change my life, my other problems didn't let me stay long enough to do that--I was always worried about where I was going to stay after the program I was in ended."

Lisa's parents divorced when she was 12 years old due to her mom's alcoholism so she went to live with her father. After Lisa graduated from high school, she moved in with her mom because of her mother's failing health.

At that time her boyfriend and older brother introduced her to drugs. Lisa barely remembers the details of what happened after her mother's death (Lisa was 20 years old at that time) because of her own addiction to alcohol and drugs.

While Lisa was working as a waitress her father moved away and her grandmother died. She and her first child were living on welfare.

She was involved in an abusive relationship at 20, became pregnant at 24, again at 25,and then she finally ran away from the abusive partner at 29. At that point she moved back to San Joaquin County to live with her grandmother.

Even though addicted to drugs, Lisa went back to school and worked as a nurse's aide. But because of her background she was unable to become licensed and ultimately had to quit her job. Lisa's life rapidly went down hill after that.

Next she was kicked out of her apartment and Child Protection Services became involved because of the children. At that point Lisa entered and completed a rehabilitation program, but the stress of the children and her inability to pay the rent for her apartment led her back into drugs.

After repeating this cycle (pregnancy, CPS and rehab) in her life for the second time Lisa heard about the the New Life Treatment Program from other women who were already in treatment in the New Life Program at the New Hope Family Shelter.

In July of 2006 Lisa entered the six-months New Life Program, and she graduated in February of 2007. She is celebrating her first six months of sobriety in over 10 years.

Lisa says, "There are many benefits to being at the Family Shelter-one of my children is back with me, we have a place to sleep each night and I am away from the people places and things that would keep me addicted. The people here are really nice! Being here allows me enough time to save for a place of my own. When I get my own place I will get the rest of my children back."

"I love it here!"