Julissa

Julissa and her three kids have been living at the Women and Children’s House for about three months, and she says she feels like part of the family: “the staff here are very supportive. They make you feel like you’re home.” Her kids love playing with the other children in the house, and she wants to stay in contact with the other residents after they go their separate ways.

Julissa worked as a bartender before moving into the Women and Children’s House, but she had a hard time making rent and taking care of her children. She also wanted to stop drinking, so she needed a change in her career and her life. Now, Julissa is nearing the end of her classes to become a CNA. After graduating, getting a job, and finding an apartment for her family, she wants to stay in school and become a phlebotomist.

“Everything happens for a reason,” she says. “I just have to keep moving on in life so my kids will be proud of me and I’ll be proud.”