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Before coming to House of Refuge Sunnyslope, Charmaine’s life was unraveling. “Before coming here, I was in addiction. I had lost my daughter, Penelope, to CPS. I was in the worst health.” She remembers the emptiness of those days: “Homeless, no job, no direction, no… faith, no spirituality… just walking around dead inside.”

Matthew doesn’t shy away from where his story began. “I started doing drugs about 15, and that kind of spiraled my life pretty quick,” he said. “I was in and out of jail, in and out of prison.” “Homeless, no job, no direction, no… faith, no spirituality… just walking around dead inside.”

Before he came to House of Refuge Sunnyslope, Z’s life felt dark and heavy. He describes it as bleak, a season filled with isolation, depression, and difficult decisions. He had fallen into alcohol and marijuana use, trying to cope with the weight of everything around him.

Michelle came to House of Refuge Sunnyslope (HRS) after years of domestic violence, addiction, and loss. A destructive relationship led to drug use, homelessness, and the painful removal of her children by CPS.

For about five years, Jarrod’s life revolved around caring for his dad. He managed hospital stays, doctor appointments, and the day-to-day needs of someone whose health was slowly declining. In the process, he put everything else aside, his job, his stability, and even his own recovery.

Determined to break the cycle, she made the courageous decision to enter residential treatment, where she spent two years working on her recovery and rebuilding her life. As her time there came to an end, she knew she needed the right next step.

For about five years, Jarrod’s life revolved around caring for his dad. He managed hospital stays, doctor appointments, and the day-to-day needs of someone whose health was slowly declining. In the process, he put everything else aside, his job, his stability, and even his own recovery.

For about five years, Jarrod’s life revolved around caring for his dad. He managed hospital stays, doctor appointments, and the day-to-day needs of someone whose health was slowly declining. In the process, he put everything else aside, his job, his stability, and even his own recovery.

"It was great....and then it was not." That's how Katy begins her story-raw, honest, and vulnerable.

“I was doing okay,” Michael began. “I had a decent life. I wasn’t perfect, but I was making it.” For 12 years, he worked as a correctional officer and raised three kids after their mother passed away. “No food stamps, no government assistance. Just me working and making sure my kids were taken care of.” Then life hit hard.

September is here, and we are just weeks away from our biggest event of the year-our 16th Annual Strike Out Homelessness Bowling Fundraiser

“It was great… and then it was not.” That’s how Katy begins her story—raw and honest. Life had been steady for years, until everything changed. “The first time my son and I became homeless was literally just off a 30-day notice. I had done nothing wrong. I had been there for five years, and I never thought I would leave.” When that notice came, everything fell apart. “We started living in my car for a while, and then I lost that car. I didn’t know what to do next.”

“I had hit rock bottom,” she said. “I was living in codependency, struggling to stop drinking, and feeling pretty helpless, fearful, and depressed. I knew I needed trauma counseling, and I knew I needed a fresh start.” 

School is back in session! Please join me in praying for our kids as they start a new school year, asking God to guide, protect, and stregthen them.

I had been homeless for a while, and I hadn’t had a shower in probably two weeks.” “Joel gave me the time. He talked to me, took me over to the men’s program for an intake, gave me a U.A.—and I failed.” But Joel didn’t just send him away.