Through it all, Erin was working; she had her own business cleaning houses as well as worked in dry cleaners for 10 years. She was employed, yet it wasn’t enough to maintain a stable home for her family.

As the loving, hardworking mother she is, there were times when Erin did the only thing she could think of to provide for her kids. “Anytime I didn’t have my kids [with me], I would sleep in my car,” she said. “I’ve slept in my car for months at a time just trying to save money, but it always ended up with too much drug use.”

It was an experience Erin wouldn’t wish upon anyone. “It’s lonely. It’s humbling. It’s humiliating. It’s embarrassing,” she said. “But lonely more than anything because you don’t want to tell people what’s going on, so you just do it alone.”

Access to bathrooms and clean water may be something we often take for granted, but for Erin, that was a primary worry when having to look presentable for work after sleeping in her car. But everything she did came back to one thing: her kids.

“My kids have got to eat, they’ve got to have clothes,” she said. “I don’t ask for help, but no matter how broke I was, my kids always looked like they were taken care of.”

Erin has been working for a lawyer, serving papers as a processor for two years now. But in October 2021, Erin realized she needed to ask for extra support. She connected with the Mission’s STAR Transitional Program at The Crossing and her life has not been the same since.

Now, Jordan is 18 and Allen is 12, and they have more stability than they’ve ever had. Through support at the Broncos room, they’ve been able to get to know the other kids at The Crossing, join a Bible study, get help with their homework through the math and reading club, and connect with the staff in the youth room.

Jordan is particularly thankful for Youth Coordinator Reshae Green. “She’s very supportive because she was [in the program] when she was 18, too, and actually lived here,” Jordan said. “So I like talking to her about my problems.”

Erin is also grateful to Counselor Joy Boston and Case Manager Kellie Dietz for teaching her things she never learned before, like budgeting and anger management.

“Joy has helped me love myself and accept that it’s okay to make mistakes,” Erin said. “And Kelly helped me pull up my credit report and learn for the first time in my life how to save money.”

“Joy has helped me love myself and accept that it’s okay to make mistakes.”

Erin

Erin’s faith is truly what has changed her life, and something she reiterates to her kids. “I really like that they do a lot of faith-based stuff with the kids because I remind them constantly that it’s what changed my life, so it changed their lives.”

For the first time, Erin feels like there’s hope for her family. She now has goals that feel attainable and resources that will provide the stability her family has longed for. And for the first time, her kids see a life-changing difference in their mom.

“She’s changed a lot being sober. She handles her emotions, takes care of herself and takes care of us way better,” Jordan said. “She’s ready to move on and I can tell that she actually wants it.”

Once graduating the STAR program, Erin hopes to get into housing, eventually open her own processor serving company and, ultimately, be a role model for her kids. “They have both struggled with trusting that the way I’ve changed is going to stay. I think with all the help they’ve had here, they finally look at me and think, we’re good.”