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Tag: Success story

“The best feeling”

Written by Joe Hart on . Posted in Client Stories.

Tiffany has fought hard to find her sense of self-worth and belonging. She remembers how isolating it felt to be raised with two older brothers who were the stars of her family’s eyes, and no matter how hard she tried, she was treated as an outcast and black sheep. Sick of the neglect, Tiffany decided to run away from her small town. Without a support system, she became homeless at 17 years old.

By age 30, Tiffany was chronically homeless, spending each day of the last three years of her life outside. Over time, this worsened her feelings of shame and isolation.

“I was accustomed to thinking I was nothing,” shares Tiffany. “I wasn’t doing much of anything that I was proud of. Now, I’m doing good and I know it.”

Tiffany was first introduced to Homeward Bound in 2010, not long after moving to Asheville in search of a second chance. She remembers meeting Amanda Thomas, a long-time Homeward Bound staff member who became her first Case Manager. “Amanda has seen how far I’ve come—she’s seen the beauty that’s come out of my story.”

Tiffany moved into her first home in 2011, but transitioning out of homelessness isn’t always linear. Like many of us, her sense of stability depended on her surroundings—and the right housing placement made all the difference. With continued support and a home that truly meets her needs, Tiffany has found her footing. Thanks to Homeward Bound’s HACA program, she has now been stably housed for nearly two years.

homeward bound client tiffany in her home
Tiffany and her art room.

“Homeward Bound never gave up on me. They never did. And it’s been nothing but great for me. I’ve got a sense of belonging. I have a sense of security. I call it my sanctuary because I get to make decisions in my life today. I get to say who comes in and out of my house. And having that freedom and independence is just absolutely the best feeling. A euphoric feeling comes over me every time I put my key in my lock.”

Tiffany has found joy in her home. She loves cooking in her kitchen, relaxing on her back porch, creating collage art, and spending time with her dog and best friend, Mystical. In addition to having her own space, Tiffany’s relationship with her current Case Manager, Zoey, has been transformative. Tiffany shares that it took time to build trust, especially given a difficult relationship with her mother.

“She showed me how to present myself, how to advocate for myself. Zoey tells me, ‘Tiffany, it’s okay to say no. No, period.’ I never thought I could say that. I always felt like I had to please somebody.”

“You know I had to include my girl, Tiffany.”

With this new confidence, Tiffany feels stronger than ever—able to speak to her property manager, navigate appointments, and live on her terms. She wants to use her stability to become a peer support specialist and use her story to help others, especially women escaping domestic violence or navigating life after homelessness.

“Whatever comes my way, if I can help them—that’s what I want to do. I want to give back because it was so freely given to me. I want to shout my story to other women and tell them they can do it too. There are some beautiful, strong women out here who deserve as much as I got and more.”

Above all, Tiffany wants Asheville to see the humanity in every person experiencing homelessness.

“These people out here on the street—they’re amazing people, and they deserve a chance. What you see isn’t always the whole story. Take the time. Sit down and talk to one of us. I think it would change your whole outlook.”

Tiffany plans to set up an art display next to an alcove on a street in downtown Asheville where she used to sleep. She hopes to turn a part of her journey into something inspiring.

Tiffany and her Case Manager, Zoey

Homeward Bound’s 2000th client moves into her own home!

Written by Homeward Bound on . Posted in Community Action, News, Our Stories.

The Struggle is Real.

April is a single mom with two teenage daughters who were homeless for six years. She grew up with a single mother who experienced domestic violence and struggled to find healthy ways to cope and keep her children safe. April also experienced relationship violence as an adult and created similar hardships for her and her children.

April had to live separately from her daughters because she did not have a permanent home.

April lived in and out of shelters in Asheville while working at a local motor lodge. Shelters felt like a prison to April, waiting for lockers and showers and strict bedtimes so, often, she lived on the streets. Homelessness required her to walk all night and stay awake to withstand the coldness of winter.

April’s Daughter Comes to Town

April’s oldest daughter texted her in June of 2018 to say she wanted to live with her. April had been staying at a local shelter, but they wouldn’t take in the 17-year-old. Rather than be separated again, April and her daughter began sleeping in their Jeep in church parking lots. They acquired many trespassing tickets throughout the winter time while April’s daughter was recovering from pneumonia. The Jeep was finally towed, along with all of their personal belongings. Throughout this time, April and her daughter continued to go to AHOPE for showers, charging their cell phones, snacks, and other needed services.

On January 29, Homeward Bound Case Manager Amanda moved April and her family into their very own home. With a letter from Homeward Bound saying they were housed, the courts dropped the trespassing charges they received while living in their car.

April wants people to know that ‘the struggle is real’ and that there aren’t enough shelters for single mothers or fathers with children. She and her daughters had to wait over four months for their apartment because three bedroom units are few and far between.

April (left) and her case manager Amanda (center). Her daughter is featured on the right.

She also explains that working full time or even part-time, and living on the streets, is virtually impossible when you are trying to keep your family together and safe. Now that they have moved into their own home, they are making plans for the girls to continue their education and for April to get back to work.

Life is on the upswing!

“Homeward Bound moved me to the front burner and set me on high.”

Written by Homeward Bound on . Posted in Client Stories, News.

Last year Harry moved from a shelter to his own home through his work with us. We interviewed him to understand what the experience was like and what’s happening in his life now.

“A year ago, during the winter months, around January and February I was living in the shelter. I had arthritis in my feet and hands real bad. I got in touch with Homeward Bound and they helped me set a course because I didn’t have the money for an apartment and to get my life on track.

This is the first place I’ve ever had of my own. I’ve always rented a room. This is my little home now. The people who live around me here, we’re all close neighbors and we get on good. There’s no violence or crime around here. We all have a sense of humor. I prank them. I have to keep them on their toes. I see them in the evening and it’s just like a family coming home from a day’s work. I go out there and holler at them. I get them cranked up. Having a place is good for me.

When people ask how I got my place, I tell them, ‘I went to the Lord and the Lord led me to Homeward Bound.’ It all came in one picture and when it did, it showed me the better side that I could live and how to leave the side I didn’t want to be in anymore. Every morning I was waking up and not knowing where my next meal would be coming from or waking up in the morning and wanting a cold Mountain Dew and not having the money in my pocket to do it. I was getting hungry during the day or wanting to lay down and you’d have to go find a bush somewhere. I don’t have to do that anymore. I can get in my bed to lay down or sit in my chair.

I have my own little place where I feel comfortable and safe. I’m a yard person anyway. It’s warming up. I’ll be out sitting out there in the yard, talking with my friends, and just enjoying life having a home. The yard is nice with the trees and the lawn. I used to sit in my grandmother’s yard out there all the time. They wouldn’t let you in the house. We were kids. We couldn’t leave the yard. I’d get sleepy and go to sleep in one of the chairs out in the sun. I do that now the same way as when I was a little kid. The sun is good for the body. I sit out there two or three hours every day and enjoy the sun.

Now I just want to get closer to the Lord. I don’t want much. Everybody can use more money, don’t get me wrong. I only ask for what the Lord gives me and I’m content with that. I’m as happy as a little pea in a pod. Homelessness is just a miserable thing to go through. I went to Homeward Bound and I asked them to help me. They were the only people I asked. They told me six to eight weeks. I got a place in five weeks. I know they’ll always be there because they told me that. They’re beautiful people. I haven’t seen any ugly people. That’s a figure of speech.

When I was around 30 I couldn’t get a place because I had a felony. People would put me on the back burner. Homeward Bound moved me around to the front burner and set me on high. They go through a lot of people in a day. They helped me with my food stamps and a lot of things. If they can do it, they do it all. They get you situated in a place where you feel comfortable. I could have moved if I wanted to, but I want to stay here because it’s my home. I hope I get to live here a long, long, long time. I hope it’s a long time before the Lord calls my number. You don’t have all this agony and weight on your shoulders. I couldn’t feel any better when I get up in the morning.”