Stories

Long before Delina came to House of Refuge Sunnyslope, her life was about survival. She grew up surrounded by generational addiction, instability, violence, and tremendous loss.

Jenny began calling shelters and programs, hoping someone could help. Again and again, she heard that there was no room or that she should call back another week. But Jenny didn’t have another week.

After moving from Atlanta to Arizona for a fresh start, life took an unexpected turn. Takiya found herself struggling with unemployment, financial hardship, unresolved grief, depression, and the effects of trauma. As a mother, she was doing everything she could to keep moving forward, but eventually she faced the possibility of living out of her car.

Before coming to House of Refuge Sunnyslope, Everth was doing what he could to keep moving forward. He had been working as a medical transporter, but when that job ended and he no longer had a place to stay, he found himself in a difficult and uncertain season. Looking for help, he called 2-1-1, and that call led him to House of Refuge Sunnyslope.

At her lowest point, with nowhere left to turn, Donnalen began searching online for help. House of Refuge Sunnyslope kept appearing in her search results. When she learned she needed 30 days of sobriety before entering the program, she made the decision to get clean and sober so she could begin again. She knew she had nothing left to lose and everything to fight for.

Mario spent much of his life in and out of prison, including a 10-year sentence during his last incarceration. When he was released, he was determined to build a different life. He completed New Freedom, found work, and began saving every dollar he could. He bought his first car and, at nearly 40 years old, got his driver’s license for the first time.

Chris shared that the day his roommate died from an aneurysm, everything changed. The loss shook him and the living situation quickly unraveled. Without that home, Chris suddenly found himself trying to figure out where he would go next. For a period of time he moved from place to place, searching for somewhere he could stay.

Her son was murdered, and the grief that followed was overwhelming. In the years that followed, Angela struggled deeply. “From that point on, I started to develop this nasty habit of drinking to where I was drunk every day for four years.” “Homeless, no job, no direction, no… faith, no spirituality… just walking around dead inside.”

I grew up in a strict military-style home. My stepfather was a Korean War veteran who did the best he could, but life was hard. I left home right after high school, joined the Navy, and spent years living the party lifestyle. Drinking became normal. Drugs became normal. For decades I worked hard, built a successful career in construction, and earned a reputation for integrity and hard work. “Homeless, no job, no direction, no… faith, no spirituality… just walking around dead

Elizabeth’s story begins in a place of deep brokenness, where addiction, loss, and homelessness collided in a way she never imagined for her life.

Before Juan ever walked onto the House of Refuge Sunnyslope campus, his life looked stable on the outside, but inside he felt stuck and divided.

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.

“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.