Tana is a strong and motivated individual who has felt like an adult since she was 11 years old. She is a survivor of domestic violence, forced institutionalization, homelessness, and other traumatic experiences—many of which were caused by people who were supposed to love and support her. Without consistent, early support systems, Tana faced ongoing barriers to housing, education, and stability. Her story reveals how intergenerational domestic violence and poverty play in the lives of many women and families experiencing homelessness.

Tana moved to Asheville with her mother and siblings in an effort to get as far away as possible from her violent and abusive father. At the time, the family was already living in a domestic violence shelter. When her parents’ divorce was finalized, the court determined that they needed to move at least four states away from her father for their safety.

Starting over in an unfamiliar place was restrictive and overwhelming, but Tana focused on school and supporting her family. Her mother worked and attended massage school while Tana took on summer internships and part-time jobs to contribute to rent. Eventually, she graduated from high school and was accepted into a college in Central Florida, achievements she says were hard to earn.

At 19, Tana began pursuing an associate’s degree in arts and science. However, after her first year, she lacked the financial resources to continue a second semester. During this time, she was living with a partner, someone she loved, who became abusive.

“As a child of domestic violence, it’s like I brought that over into my relationships,” says Tana. “It was normal.”

Tana’s first experience sleeping outside began when her partner would kick her out, leaving her to sleep in her car parked outside their home. Because his name was the only one on the lease, Tana had little control over her living situation. Her last remaining support system was her paternal grandparents, though they often sided with Tana’s father since the divorce. Nonetheless, Tana needed a place to stay and moved in with them. This is where things became increasingly unstable.

Tana’s paternal grandparents were deeply involved in a cult and its harmful practices, creating a fearful environment. One night, after reaching her breaking point, the police were called. Despite her attempts to explain what was happening, the police assumed that Tana was lying and involuntarily committed her to a mental health institution. This experience was devastating for Tana. For 20 days, Tana pleaded for someone to believe her as she learned she was at risk of being placed under conservatorship by a judge. Eventually, a staff member listened, believed her, and helped secure her release.

By that point, she wanted nothing to do with her grandparents and was unable to move back in with her mother. With no remaining support system to rely on, Tana became homeless. Over the next decade, she struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and deep trust issues. Unfortunately, Tana experienced another traumatic experience when she attempted to reconnect with her father in hopes of having a place to stay. As a result, she fell into a downward spiral and developed an addiction to cope with the pain of her past.

Living on the streets in Asheville was extremely difficult. Tana stayed in abandoned buildings, in the woods, and with friends whenever possible. Over the years, she held jobs while homeless, including work as a certified nursing assistant and with a local city department. Despite her efforts, housing remained out of reach. Rent prices were unaffordable, and even motel rooms were often inaccessible due to policies that made it difficult for people with in-state IDs to book. Carrying everything she owned from place to place took a toll on her body and well-being.

“I can’t tell you the number of times that I had strap burns and backpack rub all against me just because I was trying to keep onto the few things that I had left.”

While experiencing homelessness in Asheville, Tana began visiting the AHOPE Day Center. There, she met AHOPE Program Manager Kris, who became a reliable and encouraging source of support. Through AHOPE, Tana was able to receive her mail, regain important legal documents, and access essentials like coffee, food, and showers. For the first time in a long while, Tana could see a real opportunity for stability and healing. In the summer of 2025, she received life-changing news: an apartment was ready for her at Homeward Bound’s Compass Point Village.

“This is the first time I’ve been on a lease,” shares Tana, reflecting on how difficult it became to find a home that was truly her own until the age of 30. “I’m starting to build some stuff back up. Things that bring me happiness and joy. Some of the things I have don’t have the sentimental value of the stuff I lost. I will never get back that beautiful scarf that I got while I was in France, I will never get my high school diploma back and the gifts from friends who passed away.”

She hopes her story encourages the Asheville community to reflect on how people experiencing homelessness are treated, particularly based on appearance. “People treat you differently when they see you and think that you’re a homeless person.” Without housing, maintaining hygiene was often difficult and deeply embarrassing. At times, she worked hard to stay clean so people would allow her to sleep on their couch, often washing up in gas station bathrooms.

Five months into her new home, Tana has the stability she needs to work toward her goals. She’s sober, searching for employment, and hopes to return to college to complete her degree, with the long-term goal of becoming a cosmetologist. While challenges remain—such as gaps in her resume due to years of homelessness—Tana remains determined. She is supported by several meaningful relationships, including her Case Manager, Amanda.

Despite the many challenges she has faced, Tana finds motivation from the glimpses of joy in her life. She remembers visiting France with her high school, driving across the country, and other meaningful moments that motivate her goals of rebuilding her life and traveling again.

“I’ve recentered myself,” shares Tana. “I tried not to let all the torture that I endured affect my mental health. I always tried to keep some goal alive or an aspiration to hold onto so that I didn’t lose my mind. I’m happy now that I have my own space where I can go to be recluse…I’ve got a home base.”

Statistics on intergenerational domestic violence and homelessness: Research shows that poverty and domestic violence often have intergenerational effects on families and their well-being. Studies estimate that up to 40% of children raised in violent households are at an increased risk of experiencing long-term trauma and becoming victims of domestic violence in adulthood[1]. Additional research shows that 10.7% of children born into poverty will spend at least half of their lives living in poverty.[2] Together, these findings reinforce that intergenerational poverty and violence are not the result of a single crisis, but of systemic factors passed down across generations.

[1] J. Kaufman et al. “Do abused children become abusive parents?” The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (1987)

[2] Monica Privette-Black. “Intergenerational Poverty in the United States.” Ballard Brief. May 2021. www.ballardbrief.org.

Homeward Bound’s Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention program provides short-term financial support and case management to individuals and families at imminent risk of homelessness and to those already experiencing homelessness in Buncombe County. Our Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention Specialist, Jesika Davis, shares an experience from her work supporting Andrea, a mother of two who was facing homelessness with her two children.

“My client was forced to move because her landlord was unable to renew her lease. She was a perfect tenant, they acknowledged, but they needed the house for personal reasons. She and her two children were scrambling to find a new place that would accept their housing voucher. Her old landlord confirmed she would get her whole deposit back, but not until after she moved out, and gave her 30 days to do so. Time was running out, and her former landlord was planning to file an eviction against Andrea.

This is when Andrea used our Get Help webpage to apply for housing assistance through Homeward Bound’s Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention program. We were able to help her with the inspection, lease signing, landlord negotiations, and ultimately the deposit within the week. When the new landlord spoke with me and learned more about Homeward Bound, he was willing to give Andrea the keys early just based on our word, also allowing her to avoid an eviction on her record. She was so relieved and grateful that she asked if she could thank our team personally.” – Jesika Davis, Rapid Rehousing/Homelessness Prevention Specialist

“I want to personally take the time to thank Homeward Bound’s Jesika, Amanda, Housing Services Director Jenny, and the whole finance department for making it possible for me and my kids to move into our beautiful home we’re in now. I am beyond thankful for the urgency, compassion, and going above and beyond to make this chapter of my life possible for me and my kids. I appreciate you all and thank you so much again for all of your hard work to make this happen.” – Andrea

John is a 38-year-old blue-collar dad who feels like he’s been given a second chance at life. For the past three years, he has been working toward and accomplishing a list of goals that includes sobriety, being a better father, and learning to love himself. His story is evidence that housing and support provide the foundation for growth, and that ending homelessness doesn’t just affect the individual but also their family and community.

John became homeless after developing an addiction to fentanyl and methamphetamine at 30 years old. He lost most of his relationships once his addiction became the primary focus of his day-to-day life. John struggled with his addiction for five years until he was arrested and incarcerated on a felony charge. He was told by the state that he would lose custody of his two sons if he didn’t turn his life around.

John’s life in prison was tough and isolating, but it gave him time to reflect. He decided that his children were more important to him than anything. Once released, John began visiting the AHOPE Day Center, checking in with Homeward Bound staff to receive assistance with housing and basic resources. He desperately needed a fresh start, but faced significant barriers to housing and employment because of his record. 

“I didn’t want to be homeless on the streets,” says John. “I didn’t want to be addicted to drugs. Drugs came with it. I told AHOPE, ‘Get me out of the streets so I can see my kids, so I can get away from this lifestyle. Just give me a chance.’”

A year and a half later, John received a call from AHOPE staff with news that he had been approved to live at Homeward Bound’s Compass Point Village. Soon, everything began to fall into place. John didn’t have to sleep outside. He had a home he could take pride in, and most importantly, this was the stepping stone he needed to focus on his goals. Thanks to a family member, John found a job building manufactured homes.

We are pleased to share that John has graduated from Compass Point Village. Our housing specialists found him a new townhome where his two sons have their own room. The three of them spend every weekend together, and John says there is no happier feeling than watching them at their baseball games. John also talks to his oldest son and daughter, who live in Florida, every day.

“I’ve got all kinds of goals that I’ve reached,” says John. “I see my kids every weekend. I’ve been sober for two years. I’ve been working my butt off. I make really good money doing what I’m doing. My credit score is through the roof. I mean, I did it. It took a lot of hard work and determination, but I never gave up. And I’m not going to.”

John says working on his list of goals keeps him steady. His next goals revolve around making sure his family is under one roof. He hopes to buy a home, slow down with his work, and spend even more time with his kids. John sees himself as a good father and feels proud of everything he has achieved.

“I’ve learned to love myself, John says. “I’m okay with myself. My whole thing is now that I’ve figured out how to love myself, I want other people to be attracted to that. That’s why I’m doing this interview. I want my energy to flow out. I’m working on giving positive energy, positive enough that people smile when they’re around me. I want people to follow my steps. I want to get my story out so people see that it’s possible. It’s very possible.”

John’s message to Asheville is that “people experiencing homelessness are still people at the end of the day. They’re still somebody’s mom, somebody’s dad, grandma, brother, or sister. It doesn’t matter what walk of life they’re in, they’re still people. Don’t look down on anybody. Try to lift them up.”

John is confident he will graduate from Permanent Supportive Housing. He’s thankful for the support of his Case Manager, Amanda; Homeward Bound Property Manager, Debbie; and the staff at AHOPE for trusting him and keeping him on track.

“They allowed me to come and tell them what I wanted to accomplish, and they gave me ways to accomplish it,” John says. “Once people get into houses, they can start focusing on what they need to focus on. It’s just one thing after another. First is the house, then the job, then whatever else comes after that. People have different goals, but I noticed that once you get housing, it’s easier to reach your goals. Everything else is like a puzzle after that; it just fits in perfectly. I’m living proof of it. If it wasn’t for Compass Point Village, my puzzle pieces would still be scattered.”