A Mother's Motivation - Denver Rescue Mission

Carrying one bag with all of her family’s belongings, Keshia faced a future of uncertainty. Thanks to you, they now have a chance to thrive.

Keshia arrived in Denver with her three youngest children— Jo’siah (seven), Lei’Lonnie (five) and Kyi’Ree (two) determined to escape a domestic violence situation and keep her children safe.

Keshia sought help from family members and shelters, but each offered only temporary support, eventually leading her family to Denver, carrying everything they owned in a single bag.

Hotel after hotel, their family stayed wherever Keshia could afford. Many of those places were in areas that didn’t feel safe— especially when it came to walking her children to school. “It was scary because I was in a new area,” she said

Food quickly became one of the hardest challenges. Without access to a kitchen, meals were limited and expensive. Access to food stamps stopped with the government shutdown. There were many days when Keshia skipped meals herself to make sure her children ate.

“I had to focus on that day, because focusing on all the other days was hard,” she recalled.

Clothing was another struggle. Especially with Colorado’s fluctuating temperatures, they didn’t have coats or shoes suitable for the cold weather.

“When we first got here, we had nothing,” Keshia said. “Now, everything I have is from donations—from clothes to shoes to comforter sets. I’m very thankful.”

As their hotel stay came to an end and shelter options dwindled, Keshia feared they might soon have nowhere to go. Then, unexpectedly, her phone rang

Denver Rescue Mission had a place for them.

“I didn’t even know about it,” Keshia said. “I was like, ‘When can I move in?’”

In November 2025, Keshia and her children moved into one of The Crossing’s Emergency Family Shelter rooms. Immediately, they felt safer—and for the first time in a long while, Keshia could finally breathe.

While the stability is still temporary until the family can move into a home of their own, they now have consistent meals, a reliable place to sleep and access to resources designed to help them move forward.

“This has been the most stable place for us,” she said. “Sometimes I think that I’m a bad mom. Like, how did I get into a situation like this to end up in a place like this? I blame myself.”

But Keshia has already seen positive growth in her children, largely thanks to the support offered through The Crossing’s Youth Center.

Kyi’Ree is in daycare, building language skills and learning to play alongside other children. Lei’Lonnie, once quiet and reserved, is now reading aloud, speaking up and connecting with friends.

While Jo’siah is still learning to process big emotions, he is energetic and creative, often drawing his favorite character— Sonic—on everything from notebooks to homework.

For Keshia, the Mission has provided more than shelter—it has offered support and encouragement for what comes next. Through case management, counseling and life-skills classes, she’s rebuilding confidence and preparing for the future.

“It feels good to have people who really care about you,” she shared. “You need that if you want to keep going.”

She’s currently enrolled in a case management program, exploring career paths that could one day allow her to help others facing similar challenges.

“I don’t want to take just any job,” she said. “I want to start a program for single moms. It means something different when someone else been through what you’ve been through.”

“It feels good to have people that really care about you. You need that if you want to keep going.”

-Keshia

Looking ahead, Keshia dreams of moving into a place her children can finally call home—one where they can unpack for good, build routines and feel safe.

“You have to stay strong,” Keshia said. “You have to be open to other people and resources. I learned it starts with me. If I don’t start, I’m going to be stuck.”

Because of compassionate supporters like you, Keshia and her children are no longer just surviving. They are healing, growing and building toward a future filled with hope.

Just thinking about her family walking into their own home for the first time, Keshia said, “I might cry. It’s going to be amazing to see my kids’ faces when they see they have their own space. I just need stability for them and consistency. I can’t give up on them—I’m strong for them.”