The following story contains content that may be triggering for some readers. Scenes include domestic violence, kidnapping, human trafficking, and rape.
Kathaleen is from Central North Carolina and is 49 years old. She’s one of the strongest and kindest people I’ve ever met.
When she was 16 years old, Kathaleen’s life changed when she was raped at a party by four white boys. At the time, her grandfather and father were both validated members of racist prison gangs, motorcycle clubs, and hate groups. The boys, who knew her family’s connections, said they did it as a punishment for speaking to a Black schoolmate earlier at the party. The same schoolmate found her after they left and stayed by her side until she got help.
“That changed my perspective,” says Kathaleen. “I didn’t want to be like those white boys, so I left home and started bouncing around. It was hard having no money, having to steal to eat, and not knowing where to sleep every night. I didn’t want to be a part of my family’s gang, but if I had stayed with them, I probably wouldn’t have been homeless.”
Kathaleen moved between friends’ homes and hotels for over 10 years until she was able to move in with her son’s father when she was 27. However, her new home wasn’t all that she hoped for and her son’s father became physically abusive.
“We had hard lives. It wasn’t a good environment. My son’s dad was an alcoholic and crackhead. There were just drugs and drugs, and when it’s around you all the time, in your face, what are you going to do? I felt like when I did drugs, I could breathe. Everything went away for about 20 minutes. And then I lost everything.”
Kathaleen and her ever-growing wall of beautiful artwork.
Kathaleen and her son were kicked out of their home with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The two of them spent the next five years uncertain where they would stay each night, sleeping behind churches in the country, in her car when possible, or on the couches and porches of people she knew.
In 2021, Kathaleen was offered a more permanent place to live with another ex-partner and his girlfriend, whom we’ll call Jane. At that point, her life seemed to be improving. She had a stable home, her son moved in with his girlfriend, taking some weight off Kathaleen’s shoulders, and her ex-partner was sent to jail for drug charges, leaving the house to her and Jane. However, she didn’t know that her incarcerated ex began a close friendship with another inmate in the same prison gang Kathaleen knew from her childhood, and the two of them, along with Jane, began planning the most malicious chain of events.
The first step was to introduce Kathaleen to their new friend from jail, whom we’ll call Mike. Kathaleen and Mike’s personalities seemed to match and they began talking as pen pals. To lure her further into a relationship, Mike told Kathaleen he wanted her to live with him at his new house near the beach when he’s released. This was a lie. In reality, Mike and Jane were planning to kidnap and traffic Kathaleen for sex and drugs. Back home, Kathaleen sensed a sudden shift in everyone’s intentions. Jane grew increasingly hostile, accusing her of stealing and insisting Kathaleen needed to go to rehab. When Kathaleen fought back, Jane persisted and said she didn’t have a choice.
“She said she was taking me to a special rehab… at the beach.”
It was then that Kathaleen realized her so-called “friends” wanted to harm and hurt her. Unfortunately, what followed was a nightmare. When Mike was released on bail, Kathaleen was kidnapped, sold, and sex trafficked. She was locked in a room for three days without access to a toilet, food, phone, or medication. Her trafficker subjected her to physical abuse and tried giving her prefilled syringes containing “hot shots”—dangerous, unknown drugs that can cause kidney and liver failure in hours. Kathaleen, determined to survive, avoided the injections by dumping them in the sink.
After months of being moved around motels and trap houses, Kathaleen’s son was fed up and began planning a way to get her out of the situation. While they were moving between motels, he told her to act like she fell in the bathroom. He then went out and convinced her traffickers that her blood sugar levels were too high and she collapsed. Jane told him she “didn’t want a body on her hands” and allowed her to go to the hospital. When she arrived, Kathaleen needed a way to secure her escape and checked herself into the hospital under a mental health crisis.
My Life at CPV “I would like to share with you how I feel about living here at Compass Point Village, as everyone knows this housing program is for the homeless and disabled, having disabilities is a struggle. It’s a life struggle. It can mean physical, or mental, even if you’re addicted to anything. Being a homeless woman and trying to stay sober on the streets is a life struggle and when you’re on the streets you are on your own. I lost my house, my car, my family, and nearly my life to addiction. It was by the Grace of God that I was accepted here – Compass Point -, and in the time that I’ve been here, since October 1st, my life has changed. Its changed in a very deep and special way. I have fought with being sober even while taking psych meds and even being on meds to help my cravings. CPV has helped me to a stable place.
A safe place so I can better myself. The staff is absolutely, amazing, you can tell that they actually care about you. They have security (RSAs) that help me, they help bring my groceries to me on my bad days, they even escort my guests up for me and they seem to never get mad or upset with me. My case manager checks on me to make sure I have what I need, the staff even comes and checks on me often. That is what makes a place special. CPV and Homeward Bound’s program has encouraged me to set goals that I never thought I would have for myself. I’m doing things I haven’t done in years. I have my own apartment, and my own space, which also helps me and my thoughts of how to be a better person. CPV has helped me from the darkness to the light. It shows me that I have friends now and that I’m independent. Because of CPV, I can hold my head high and know that better days are actually coming.”
“It was pretty hard. I was devastated and didn’t know what to do. But I knew I was on my way. I wanted to get clean, I wanted my kids back, I wanted my life back.”
Kathaleen spent the next two years trying to heal and recover, moving between medical and psychiatric units in 17 hospitals until she moved to Mission Hospital in May 2023. While there, a compassionate and caring nurse wanted to know more about her, concerned about why she wasn’t getting the help she needed. When Kathaleen explained her story involved sex trafficking and abuse, the nurse was shocked and immediately reached out to Helpmate, a domestic violence support agency in Asheville, and RHA Health Services. She didn’t want Kathaleen to leave the hospital without finding a safe place to live.
When Kathaleen was discharged from Mission, Helpmate paid for her to stay in a hotel for four weeks and contacted Homeward Bound for help with permanent housing and case management. Three months later, Kathaleen was approved for Permanent Supportive Housing and became one of the first people to move to Compass Point Village when it opened in October 2023.
“I was still having a lot of problems in my head. I don’t go out much, and when I do, I don’t go alone. When I would get on the bus, I was afraid of who’d be there. I was afraid I’d be taken back or killed. And those feelings and emotions were holding me back. Then, I moved here, and I’ve just blossomed!
One year later, Kathaleen’s physical and mental health has drastically changed. She’s developed a passion for painting and loves sharing her artwork with others. She’s been sober for two years, her diabetes is under control, she’s losing weight, and her IBS has completely disappeared. Kathaleen is especially grateful for the daily support from her best friend, Jake, who helps with chores and errands, and for her Case Manager, Sunni, who has been with her since day one.
“Sunni is just wonderful! She sits down to talk with me to see how I’m doing. When she’s off and I text her, she texts or calls me right back. I once had an issue at the front desk, called Sunni, and she was here in five minutes. She is a bright, bright woman. I love her.”
As a survivor of domestic violence and sex trafficking, Kathaleen deeply values the safety and security provided by Compass Point Village. The presence of a front gate, a check-in desk, and on-site staff give her a sense of protection, something she once feared she’d never have. She urges the public to believe those who come forward as victims or survivors of human trafficking,
“I went to 17 hospitals and no one believed me. Take the time to understand what someone is going through. It could happen to anyone at any time.”
Kathaleen (right) and her Case Manager, Sunni
Over 100,000 cases of human trafficking involving over 190,000 victims have been reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline since 2007. Over 10,000 trafficking cases were reported in 2021.
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 29% of women and 10% of men in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by a partner.
Joe Hart is the Communications Specialist for Homeward Bound of WNC. He loves telling our client's stories and encourages everyone in the community to get to know the people living near them who are experiencing homelessness. Reuniting individuals with their community is the first step to helping end homelessness everywhere.
Our measure of success generally is determined by measuring the percentage of clients in our permanent supportive housing programs who remain housed 12 months after placement. Given the many variables that impact chronically homeless clients, and consistent with other studies, we count as “housed” those who have graduated from supportive housing to other housing, those who move to health care facilities, those who have moved out of the area, and can no longer be tracked; those incarcerated, and those who have died. For example, at The Woodfin, of the 37 clients who have been housed over five years, 92% remain housed. Seventeen clients live at The Woodfin now; five have “graduated” to other housing; two have moved to nursing facilities; seven have died, and two have been imprisoned. Only four clients have been evicted.
