“A place where I can be me.”
Research shows that stable and healthy relationships are not only a source of happiness but also a key determinant of health, resilience, and longevity. That’s why Homeward Bound provides Housing Case Managers—because helping someone transition from a state of crisis to stability is just as important as providing a home.
For Barbara, housing and genuine support have given her the space to heal, find answers to long-held questions, and recover from painful experiences.
As a young adult, Barbara envisioned a different future for herself. At 19, she married and moved in with her husband. Soon after they had their second child, however, he began drinking and became violent. Barbara tried to make it work for the sake of her children, but the abuse worsened and often occurred in front of them. They eventually divorced, but in suspicious circumstances, her ex-husband was awarded full custody of their children. Barbara says this caused her to lose her mind.
“I felt like everything I was meant to be and do in this life—a mother, a wife—was taken from me,” she says. “I put my head down and started to work a lot, doing everything to make the hole in my heart and soul go away.”
Soon after losing custody, Barbara was diagnosed with fibromyalgia—an incurable chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties. She continued working construction jobs to support herself and stay close to her children, but eventually the symptoms became too much to handle. Barbara lost her apartment and became homeless at 30 years old.
During this time, Barbara was introduced to methamphetamine, which she says relieved both her emotional and physical pain. For many people experiencing homelessness or other traumatic situations, substances often become a way to relieve pain when nothing else seems to work.
Homeless and living under the Lexington bridge, Barbara took the chance offered by Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness to move into a hotel. She stayed there for a year while they helped her connect with housing, and it was during this time that she was introduced to Homeward Bound.
Homeward Bound worked to find the right home for Barbara, placing her in two other residences before she moved to Compass Point Village. Each step brought her closer to stability, but it was the security and wrap-around services at Compass Point Village that allowed her to thrive.
Barbara credits her stability to several factors: the safety and security of Compass Point Village and a treatment plan with our on-site clinical partner, Appalachian Mountain Health, which finally relieved her pain. She says it took doctors more than 10 years to find a complete answer to her chronic pain.
With stability in housing and health, Barbara has been able to focus on her recovery from substances and the things that bring her peace. She reads, sews, and looks forward to the art groups at Compass Point Village. She cherishes the relationships she has built—with her mother, neighbors, staff, and especially her Case Manager, Amanda. Barbara says she and Amanda “clicked like sisters.”
In their time working together, Amanda says Barbara has remained strong despite everything she’s been through.
“She’s been housed at Compass Point Village for almost two years because of her growth. That in itself is a huge accomplishment. Little or big wins for my clients and watching them grow is why I do this work. This opportunity to hear her story again and be a part of it makes me remember why I enjoy this job in the first place. Barbara is one of my many clients who keeps me motivated and happy to continue doing what I do.”
Amanda adds, “She can find joy in so many things, and sometimes she just giggles and laughs. Just the sound of her laugh makes me laugh.”
Barbara hasn’t seen her children in several years and holds onto hope that they will one day reconnect. Still, she’s proud of the progress she has made.
“I’ve learned to stick up for myself and stand up for myself, and let people know what I need,” she says. “I’m glad to have a place where I can be me. I’ve got a little more to go, but I’m on the way, and I’m happier now than I was a couple of years ago. If it wasn’t for Homeward Bound, I don’t know where I would be.”
