Jena

“About 16 months ago I struggled with a drug addiction that I thought I could never overcome. It was killing me. It broke me away from my children and my family, who meant the world to me.”

“I found out I was going to have another baby. One baby before was not enough to get me sober. But something clicked in me this time. I wanted a different way of life. I found a 6-month inpatient treatment before I gave birth to my baby. I knew CPS would be there to take her from me, and they were, but I had a plan and told them I was not going to give up on this baby, and to please place her with family for 6 months [until] I could get a bed, and I would prove I could do this.

“So, about 3 months later I got my inpatient bed. I was CPS-involved and determined to get my little girl back. So I did what I had to do – I stayed clean, waiting for my bed. And I could not believe my eyes when they placed my baby back in my care. That was huge for me.

“Well, it was getting close to our discharge and we had nowhere to go. Too many housing programs were full and if I had nowhere to go, my baby could not leave with me. I was a mess, thinking I was going to lose what I worked so hard to get back, but my CPS worker said, “I can get you a housing program. It’s new and you would be the third person to get on the program. I was so happy. It is through the Housing Authority of Snohomish County.” Little did I know I would be getting Section 8 and my own place. It was a struggle to get someone to rent to me but I found this place and had my heart set on it. And thanks to Phyllis, she talked to [the landlord] and got me in.

“If it was not for Phyllis and the Housing Authority, I don’t think I would be in my own place the last 9 months. I have almost 17 months clean, my license back, my own home and full custody of my baby girl, and I am working and going to college full-time. I want to thank Phyllis and the Housing Authority – you guys changed my life.”